Community Health Worker – (3539)

JOB SUMMARY   

A Community Health Worker will work at the community level for an assigned geographical area/population. Her/his main responsibilities are (i) Health promotion: educating the population about health and hygiene issues in their community, improving health seeking behaviors, recognition and timely referral for services to the nearest health facility. (ii) Community mobilization: the CHW will mobilize community members for preventive and curative interventions such as mass immunization, screening and deworming… etc.  In some low resources instances she/he may also be trained and assigned to perform and provide basic clinical services at the facility or community level.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• To deliver an agreed package of health education messages to the assigned communities. The messages may include communicable and non-communicable diseases including vaccine preventable and outbreak potential diseases, SRH, MHPSS, nutrition WASH. & health seeking behaviors.

• Provide information on availability of curative and preventive health services

• Conduct household visits to perform health education sessions and refer clients for services.

• Conduct group education sessions in places where community members gather or by inviting groups of people together to receive health education messages.

• Use and distribute IEC materials for one on one, group and community-based education sessions.

• To keep record of population in her/his catchment area and maintain records of pregnant women, births, deaths and other children under 5 years and follow up to ensure they get necessary services from the nearest health/referral center.

• To work with and support outreach for health services, campaigns and any other public health events occurring in the community.

• Work closely with the nearest health facility to trace defaulters for services such as EPI, ANC, PNC, TB and other services, refer clients to resume services.

• Identify high risk cases for mother and child based on danger signs and ensure referral and availing services at the nearest health facility.

• To work with the community and health facility in supporting referral of anyone requiring a higher level of care.

• Conduct community surveillance of vaccine preventable and disease of potential outbreak and submit timely and accurate reports.

• Report any unusual health events at the community level and report to supervisor or nearest health facility.

• To keep a record of her activities and submit timely reports using the standard tools provided.

• To maintain record of all materials and supplies provided and summit reports as required by the supervisor.

• Provided ICCM services for common morbidities and treatment of other minor ailments, basic first aid, where applicable and if trained in accordance with country protocols.

• To engage and participate in meetings with the community, keep them informed of her work.

• To be a role model for the community in her/his personal life, including maintaining a healthy, hygienic home life.

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Typically, a minimum of primary level education certificate. Equivalent levels of education and experience are acceptable in the country of work.

• In places where required education is not possible, the candidate must be able to read and write.

• Must be trained as community health workers before starting his/her work.

• Must be a resident in the village to be covered/catchment area and locally respected and. trusted.

• Must have good communication skills.

• Must be fluent in the local language.

• Other language skills will be a plus.