Premium
Maintaining population health in low‐ and middle‐income countries during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Why we should be investing in Community Health Workers
Author(s) -
Palafox Benjamin,
Renedo Alicia,
Lasco Gideon,
PalileoVillanueva Lia,
Balabanova Dina,
McKee Martin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.13498
Subject(s) - pandemic , personal protective equipment , covid-19 , business , population , health care , community health , order (exchange) , economic growth , low and middle income countries , developing country , environmental health , medicine , economics , finance , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Summary Community health workers in low‐ and middle‐income country primary health care systems are well suited to perform essential functions on the frontlines of Covid‐19 pandemic responses. However, clear and coordinated guidance, updated infection control training, and reliable access to personal protective equipment must be ensured in order to deploy them safely and effectively. With these additional responsibilities, community health workers must also be supported to ensure that hard‐fought gains in population health, including progress on non‐communicable diseases, are sustained throughout the pandemic.