– An area of concern for Region 10 health workers

COMMUNITY Health Workers (CHWs) in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) have been unable to do effective reporting, but, in an effort to improve that area of work, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) started a three-day training exercise.

According to a press statement from the regional administration, some 40 CHWs, from various health centres in Region Ten, attended the meeting and training workshop which was held in the conference room of the LEN building. The exercise forms part of the health services programmes, which are geared at further enhancing the educational and technical skills of the CHWs.
Senior Health Visitor (ag) for Region Ten, Karen King, said the three-day meeting is usually held quarterly and was an Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) review. She pointed out that it was a review for the third quarter and the entire year and added that it contributed to a better understanding of what was achieved and the challenges that were faced.
“For the three days we will be looking at several issues, among them being the vaccination coverage for the health centres and health posts within Region Ten. We will also be doing a training workshop as we seek to improve the skills and knowledge of our Community Health Workers as they are our partners in addressing health care effectively within the region,” King said.

King added that the meeting was also geared at addressing a number of issues being faced by the health workers, noting that addressing them was important to ensure continued success within the region’s health sector.

The workshop would also focus on improving the report-writing skills of CHWs. According to King, several of the health workers’ reports were not done properly, in terms of how they should be submitted. Emphasis would be placed on the format and style that should be used when reports were to be done.

King added that enhancing and further improving the skills of the CHWs in report writing and compilation were critical because it was the very reports submitted by the various health centres and health posts that were used to compile the regional report, which was then submitted to the Ministry of Public Health. Such reporting allows one to ascertain the performance and status of the relevant areas of the health sector in the region.
“We are hoping to get the health workers to understand how to report, so part of the workshop will look at improving their skill in that area. We recognise that the CHWs need help in better preparing their report, and, through this workshop, we intend to lend the required support so as to eradicate that challenge. There is therefore an urgent need to better train the CHWs,” King noted.

Regional Executive Officer (REO), Orrin Gordon, stressed the need for the CHWs to continue enhancing and improving their education. He reminded them that they played an important role within the health sector of Region Ten. He told the eager participants that they should remain cognisant of that fact.

“You have a responsibility to help in delivering health care within the region and it’s important that you do not lose sight of this focus as health care is your sector and you are expected to be the best that you can. However, let me remind you that you must see the need and importance of improving your education. You must see the need and urgency of enhancing your professional outlook as when you see the need you will take the appropriate steps in taking yourself to another level,” he urged the CHWs.

Gordon said that advancing one’s education does not necessarily mean physically attending an institution but rather further empowering oneself with knowledge and understanding.
“Reading and research are critically important in advancing one’s education and this is very important as everyone should read a lot so as to keep themselves abreast with what is happening within their own field. As such, you don’t all have to be going off to university at once but remember education is important to your development,” the REO declared.