Building the Capacity of Community Health Workers


Reporting Organization:Amref Health Africa in Canada
Total Budget ($CAD):$ 2,332,159
Timeframe: February 28, 2011 - June 30, 2014
Status: Completion
Contact Information: Unspecified

Partner & Funder Profiles


Reporting Organization


Amref Health Africa in Canada

Participating Organizations


Unspecified

Funders (Total Budget Contribution)


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Location


Country - Total Budget Allocation


Tanzania, United Republic of - $ 792,934.06 (34.00%)

South Africa - $ 583,039.75 (25.00%)

Kenya - $ 489,753.39 (21.00%)

Uganda - $ 466,431.80 (20.00%)

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Areas of Focus


Health - Total Budget Allocation


Health Systems, Training & Infrastructure (40 %)

Health Promotion & Education (10 %)

Infectious & Communicable Diseases (10 %)

Sexual Health & Rights (10 %)

Primary Health Care (5 %)

Other - Total Budget Allocation


Law, Governance & Public Policy (15 %)

Human Rights, Advocacy & Public Engagement (10 %)

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Description


This project aims to improve access to health information and basic health services, particularly for child and maternal health, by training 1,320 community health workers in vulnerable and marginalized communities in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and 800 traditional health practitioners in South Africa. The community health workers help reduce the incidence of malaria, HIV/AIDS and other preventable health problems by providing community health education and services to children and mothers. Five health clinics in Tanzania are being rehabilitated. To promote effectiveness and sustainability, the African Medical and Research Foundation Canada (AMREF) is documenting best practices for training community health workers, identifying the most effective methods for improving the integration of these health workers into the government’s health systems, and documenting lessons learned for strengthening health systems with community health workers. AMREF Canada works with local NGO partners, government ministries (at the district level and national levels), community institutions and health experts in the field. AMREF Canada also promotes Canadian public engagement on maternal and child health through presentations, social networking activities, and media.

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Target Population


Gender and age: Adult women Under-5 children Newborns
Total Direct Population: 188,800
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Outputs


Unspecified

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Results & Indicators


Expected Results


Unspecified

Achieved Results


Results achieved as of the end of the project June 2014 include: In Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, (i) over 1,500 community health workers were trained in the delivery of essential health services; (ii) more than 100,000 household visits/sessions were conducted by community health workers after they completed their training; (iii) more than 26,000 referrals were made by community health workers connecting sick individuals to services provided by the formal health system; (iv) approximately 161,300 individuals were reached with public health information through public forums and community dialogue sessions; and (v) more than 12,000 insecticide treated bed nets (ITN) used to prevent malaria were distributed by community health workers leading to an increase usage of ITN, with 86.2% of children under five and 79.6% of women using it in program-targeted areas. These results are contributing to improving the health of rural, poor, and vulnerable, especially women and children, in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. It has reduced caseloads of preventable and treatable diseases in targeted communities and is also improving people’s access to improved quality health care services and good information about their health.

Indicators


  • None Selected
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Associated Projects (If applicable)


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