Abstract
In Uganda community empowerment and mobilization for health has been enshrined in national health policies and strategies since 1999. The USAID Health Care Improvement Project developed the CHW AIM Toolkit that includes a guided self-assessment and performance improvement process to help organizations identify program strengths and address gaps for improving functionality. The study was conducted to ascertain the extent to which the utilization of the CHW- AIM strengthened the VHT systems in accordance with the MoH 2010 guidelines. Using the CHW-AIM methodology at the end line assessment, 6 program components scored 3 a best practice of functionality (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10), 8 program components scored a functional score of 2 (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) and only one component scored a partially functional score of 1 (7). The District and the Health Facilities should use this VHT Assessment tool periodically to identify areas of weakness and make improvements accordingly.
Highlights
village health team (VHT) were established by the MoH to empower communities to take part in the decisions that affect their health; mobilize communities for health programs, and strengthen the delivery of health services at house-hold level
VHTs have operationalized, provided training on programmatic areas with the basic/core training required of VHTs using the MOH VHT training manual and tried to support the other components that promote the functionality of the VHT Program
The project worked with the sub county Health Assistants (Has) and the Villages’ leadership to collect feedback about the VHTs ability to work, whether they met the MoH educational level criteria of reading and writing and how frequent they participate in voluntary work, this information determined the VHTs to be dropped
Summary
The community health worker: This is a person chosen by the community to facilitate the promotion of the health and well-being of all village members through behavioral change models [1]. In Uganda a community health worker (CHW) is equivalent to a village health team (VHT) [2]. CHW AIM: A kit designed to help organizations assess VHT program functionality and improve program performance [3]. Built around a core of 15 components defined as essential for effective programs, CHW AIM includes a guided self-assessment and performance improvement process to help organizations identify program strengths and address gaps. Through discussion and review of current practices, the process assists understanding of best practices, builds consensus about and commitment to change, and provides guidance for improving functionality
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