Despite growing interest in harnessing resources to support innovative solutions proven to improve the capacity of health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, only a small proportion of related investments have been able to make an impact at scale.
Community health workers play a critical role in implementing these health innovations — whether new products, services, or delivery models — within the local context to meet the specific health needs of their communities. As a key conduit connecting underserved groups to quality health care at the local level, CHWs help expand access to primary care. In many places, they are the sole link between the patient and health care.
“If it wasn't for the community health care workers we would not be able to detect some of the most common, neglected diseases for children, such as respiratory infections and typhoid … [the CHWs] have the capacity to influence the community because they are very close to them, and the community trusts them,” said Dr. Wilnick Richard, chief medical officer at Care 2 Communities, a network of community-based clinics in Haiti.
The Global Health Innovation Grants, or GHIG, program funded by The Pfizer Foundation*, is working to support organizations in accelerating locally based solutions to combat global health challenges. For many organizations supported by the program since it was created in 2016, CHWs have been key in delivering innovative solutions on the frontlines.
Devex spoke to four of the social enterprises in the GHIG program about the ways in which CHWs deliver effective and innovative health care services to their communities.
*The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.
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