The Earth Institute partners with Global Poverty Project for Community Health Workers

WHAT'S THE COMMITMENT?

Joyce Banda was President of Malawi at the Global Citizen Festival 2013, where she committed to bring the number of community health workers in her country from 10,000 to 27,000.

HOW DID GLOBAL CITIZENS RESPOND?

During her Presidency, Joyce Banda incorporated this commitment into the essential work of the Malawian Ministry of Health. Although it remains unknown how many health workers are in training, we know that earlier this year, the number of qualified health workers in Malawi today remained unchanged. In more positive news, we know from onemillionhealthworkers.org that plans exist to deliver Community Casework Management training to 5,000 Health Surveillance Assistants in readiness for improved on the ground community casework delivery by 2015.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

Joyce Banda has fully implemented this commitment by including it in the work of the Ministry of Health inspite of losing her seat in the recent controversial election in Malawi. The additional 17,000 health workers will contribute to reducing child and mother mortality, and enable fewer common illnesses to go untreated.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Global Poverty Project will continue to seek support for increasing community health workers in areas of the world where people live in extreme poverty.