Community Health Workers in Malawi Trained to Combat Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
COFO trained community health volunteers for better health in Malawi, writes Comfort Bulangete.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi - The Community Forum Organisation (COFO) took a proactive step towards improving the health of communities in Malawi by conducting a 5-day training for community health volunteers and health surveillance assistants in Chikwawa, writes Comfort Bulangete.
The training aimed to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to treat both communicable and non-communicable diseases within their communities, ultimately reducing the spread of diseases.
Joshua Malunga, Chief Executive Officer of Community Forum, explained the purpose of the training, stating that it was essential to ensure that community health workers had a comprehensive understanding of providing health services to under-5 children, including growth monitoring and nutritional screening.
This training would empower them to work effectively and contribute to reducing maternal deaths.
"We have observed that most of the community volunteers have not yet received training since their selection. The training organised by our organisation will enhance their knowledge and enable them to perform their duties more effectively," said Malunga.
Felix Santu, a community health nursing officer, commended COFO for organising the training, highlighting its positive impact on the dissemination of health information.
Santu also emphasised the importance of challenging certain cultural beliefs and practices within communities, as they often contribute to the transmission of diseases.
Mphatso Suwiti, one of the community health volunteer workers who attended the training, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and highlighted the benefits she gained from the programme.
Suwiti mentioned that since her appointment as a community health volunteer worker, she had not received any training. With the knowledge she acquired from this training, she felt confident in providing quality health services to her community.
The Community Forum Organisation is dedicated to implementing various interventions that prioritise the well-being and livelihoods of people, aiming to improve their overall standard of living.
The training of health workers is just one of the initiatives undertaken by the organisation.