By Kuda Pembere
Community or Village Health Workers have been commended by Africa CDC, top government officials and other health partners for their contribution to improving key health indicators, among them, maternal mortality.
According to the Zimbabwe Health Demographic Survey (2023–2024), the country recorded a 21 percent decline in maternal mortality, from 462 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 363 in 2024.
Speaking at the ongoing Multistakeholder Forum for Community Health, Dr. Barnabas Kwame Veboah, Africa CDC Senior Technical Officer for Community Health Advocacy and Sustainability, said it was important to recognize the contribution of these unsung heroes in public health interventions, CHWs.
“As we deliberate, let us remember that behind every statistic is a mother who survives childbirth because a CHW recognized the danger signs in time; a child who lives because of timely malaria treatment; a community that thrives because outbreaks are detected early,” he said.
Africa CDC has trained 500 CHWs in cholera detection and control in Zimbabwe, which helped the country achieve epidemic control of the water-borne disease. The agency is targeting the deployment of 2 million CHWs across Africa by 2030. A recent Community Health Landscape Survey found more than 1 million already deployed, representing 69 percent of national targets.
Despite this progress, median coverage remains low at one CHW per 1,302 people. Dr. Veboah also pointed to a US$3.65 billion financing gap to reach the 2030 target.
“Community Health Workers are the backbone of primary health care and the frontline defenders of our people’s health. They are not only trusted messengers but also the first responders during crises, the link between households and health facilities, and the champions of prevention, health promotion, and community trust.
“When empowered, well-trained, and adequately supported, CHWs save lives, improve equity, and strengthen the resilience of our health systems,” he said. “Across Africa, more than 70% of our people live in rural and underserved areas. For many, CHWs are the only point of contact with the health system. Yet, despite their proven value, CHW programs remain fragmented, underfunded, and often lack standardized training, supervision, and sustainable financing. This limits their ability to contribute fully to universal health coverage, epidemic preparedness, and the achievement of our continental and global health goals.”
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora officiating the event acknowledged how these cadres played a pivotal role in several public health interventions.
“Village health workers have driven major upticks in critical public health interventions, including higher immunization coverage among infants and young children, increased early antenatal clinic bookings and a drop in unassisted home deliveries, distribution and proper use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to prevent malaria, diagnosis and management of malaria with up to 40 percent of malaria cases diagnosed and treatment and/or referred by VHWs, community-led growth monitoring and disease surveillance, among others,” he said.
UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative Etona Ekole also hailed CHWs for their role in controlling outbreaks.
“Here in Zimbabwe, Village Health Workers are often the silent heroes of this system. They are trusted by the communities, present where needs are greatest, and save lives every single day. Just recently, I had the privilege of meeting with several Village Health Workers in Manicaland. One of them, speaking with passion, told me how she walks long distances each week to visit families, check on children’s diets, and ensure no mother gives birth without support. Her story is not unique. It represents the daily commitment of thousands of Village Health Workers across the country,” she said.
Tuso Tanda, from the Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global Fund, stressed the need to professionalize the CHW network to achieve universal health coverage.
“The Global Fund supports the GoZ to provide incentives for Village Health Workers. An integrated package of care focusing beyond single diseases will need to be considered for VHW trainings for sustainability.
