ICTPH - Human Capacity


	Our Profile Board of Directors Our Videos Working Paper Series (WPS) Concept Notes Questionnaires Global Internship Program (GIP) Journal - 2009 GIP Information - 2010 Community Health Worker (CHW) Programme Nala Oli - ICTPH CHW Initiative Traditionally “community health worker” (CHW) embraces a variety of community health aides selected, trained and working in the communities from which they come. A widely accepted definition was proposed by WHO: “Community health workers should be members of the communities where they work, should be selected by the communities, should be answerable to the communities for their activities, should be supported by the health system but not necessarily a part of its organization, and have shorter training than professional workers”. CHWs do not include formally trained nurse aides, medical assistants, physician assistants, paramedical workers in emergency and fire services and others who are auxiliaries, mid-level workers and self-defined health professionals or health paraprofessionals. Traditional, faith and complementary healers as well as traditional birth attendants also are not included in this definition, as these important groups warrant separate and detailed treatment in their own right. The profile of community health workers internationally is very diverse. While there are some broad trends, they can be men or women, young or old, literate or illiterate. In almost all cases they come from the communities they serve. Most importantly, there is broad agreement that who and what CHWs are must respond to local societal and cultural norms and customs to ensure community acceptance and ownership. Taking a cue from several studies done in India and the world on Community Health Workers, ICTPH has embarked on an extensive research to understand the role of the same with a view to create a health force that can effectively implement healthcare activities in rural areas. The Human capacity vertical has conceptualized and implemented a community outreach initiative as a part of its objective to analyse and address a vital issue of human resources for health plaguing several health care initiatives for rural populations. ICTPH has developed a workforce of community health workers in its field site in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu to understand the role of CHWs in health care delivery. Research Questions Role of Preventive/Promotive care in cohesion with a well functioning primary care system in cutting down costs in secondary and tertiary care Role of Community Health Workers in providing care beyond Reproductive Child Health/Maternal Child Health focus Close Ongoing Research Projects Pilot project on validation study of CHW’s assessment in the field of oral health Strategy paper on assessing Mental Health in Karambayam, Tamil Nadu Strategy paper on Non-Communicable Diseases for Karambayam, Tamil Nadu Project Proposal on Behavior Change Communication (BCC) tools for KGFS (IFMR) Close Nala Oli Volunteer Handbook The Nala Oli Volunteer Handbook was developed as a basic health guide for ICPTH's community health workers, called Nala Oli Volunteers (NOVs). The Handbook presents the role of the NOV in ICPTH's programs, and provides an overview of basic health information, such as nutrition and reproductive health, and community health issues such as water and sanitation. Download PDF - (6.0Mb) Close Back to community health worker View ICTPH Nala-Oli Video

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