Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: COVID-19 disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable. Community health workers are poised to play a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic, especially in countries with less resilient health systems. Drawing from practitioner expertise across four WHO regions, this article outlines the targeted actions needed at different stages of the pandemic to achieve the following goals: (1) PROTECT healthcare workers, (2) INTERRUPT the virus, (3) MAINTAIN existing healthcare services while surging their capacity, and (4) SHIELD the most vulnerable from socioeconomic shocks. While decisive action must be taken now to blunt the impact of the pandemic in countries likely to be hit the hardest, many of the investments in the supply chain, compensation, dedicated supervision, continuous training and performance management necessary for rapid community response in a pandemic are the same as those required to achieve universal healthcare and prevent the next epidemic.
Source: BMJ Global Health
Authors: Madeleine Ballard, Emily Bancroft, Josh Nesbit, Ari Johnson, Isaac Holeman, Jennifer Foth, Debbie Rogers, Jane Yang, James Nardella, Helen Olsen, Mallika Raghavan, Raj Panjabi, Rebecca Alban, Serah Malaba, Molly Christiansen, Stephanie Rapp, Jennifer Schechter, Patrick Aylward, Ash Rogers, Jacques Sebisaho, Clarise Ako, Nandini Choudhury, Carey Westgate, Julius Mbeya, Ryan Schwarz, Matthew H Bonds, Rehan Adamjee, Julia Bishop, Amanda Yembrick, David Flood, Meg McLaughlin, Daniel Palazuelos
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,679
OpenAlex ID: W3033554322