Community Health Workers in Pandemics: Evidence and Investment Implications
Madeleine Ballard, Ari Johnson, Iris Mwanza, Hope Ngwira, Jennifer Schechter, Margaret Odera, Dickson Mbewe, Roseline Moenga, Prossy Muyingo, Ramatulai Jalloh, John Wabwire, Angela Gichaga, Nandini Choudhury, Duncan Maru, Pauline Keronyai, Carey Westgate, Sabitri Sapkota, Helen Elizabeth Olsen, Kyle Muther, Stephanie Rapp, Mallika Raghavan, Kim Lipman-White, Matthew French, Harriet G. Napier, Lyudmila Nepomnyashchiy
Abstract
<h3>Key Messages</h3> A strong and accessible national health system, including at the community level, is critical for pandemic preparedness and response. Community health workers who are equipped, trained, and paid as part of a well-functioning health system can help prevent epidemics from becoming pandemics and maintain health care delivery amid significant disruption. To achieve resilient health systems, bi/multilateral aid and private philanthropies need to review their investment practices to replace those that cause harm (high transaction costs, earmarking, short-termism, appropriation of sovereignty) with practices that ensure timely and effective implementation of priorities set by government stakeholders (pooling, longer commitments, and alignment with evidence-based guidelines)