Health extension workers trained to reach remote communities

Over 100 Health Extension Workers (HEWs) who are currently on six-month training course in the Zambezi Region will be expected to serve as a link between the local health facilities and vulnerable communities in remote areas who don’t have access to health outreach points. Due to the impact of HIV and other life-threatening diseases on communities in the Zambezi Region, with a population of 99 190, and lack of accessible outreach points because of swamps, floodplains, wetlands and woodlands, many children and women die because they are not reached on time. In Namibia, according to a health situation report, the infant mortality rate is 46 per 1 000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate is 69 per 1 000 live births and the maternal mortality rate stands at 4 999 per 100 000 live births. The malnutrition rate remains high as the number of children who are underweight is calculated at 16.6%, severely underweight at 4%, while 9.9% of children are stunted. The national HIV prevalence is 17.8% while sanitation coverage is 34% as first recorded in 2006. Zambezi Regional Health Director Albuis Maswahu said these HEWs are expected to assist and create awareness among people to become involved in their own health, as the government’s effort through the primary healthcare approach has yet to yield much success. Maswahu said an estimated number of 214 HEWs are needed to serve about 21 352 households. The HEWs started training in September and will complete the course in March 2014. “These HEWs will be equipped with vital skills. They will work more like what the non-governmental organisation volunteers and home-based care volunteers do, except they will be remunerated for their services. “Upon completion of their training, HEWs will be required to go into hard-to-reach areas, such as those villages cut off by floods. They will also visit households to assist people who are incapacitated to visit health centres,” Maswahu said. Maswahu said the health ministry will monitor and evaluate the progress made by HEWs. The ministry will track the indicators of diphtheria, measles immunisation, sanitation coverage, exclusive breastfeeding, anti-retroviral compliance and contraceptive use. These indicators will include statistics on the number of children under five with diarrhoea who receive rehydration therapy, the number of pregnant women visited per year, maternal and child deaths per year, pregnant women delivering at health facilities and the number of pregnant teens. “Effective monitoring of progress will be made. Periodic evaluation will be conducted. All this will be made in line with the National Health Strategic Plan of [the health ministry]. We are aiming to avert our citizens, especially women and children, from dying of preventable diseases,” said Maswahu.