Training and capacity building
pneumonia, diarrhea
PNEUMONIA, POLIO
Physicians, nurses, CHWs and LHWs in the community shared the view that training and refresher courses are essential for professional development. They identified the need for better and more frequent training opportunities, particularly LHWs. Participants related that currently, doctors attend training workshops and only superficially brief LHWs who are the main source of health awareness and healthcare in the community. Additionally, present refresher courses are focused almost entirely on polio vaccination, and LHWs desired training on breastfeeding, complementary feeding, water, and hygiene as these are more frequent and important issues they are currently faced with in the community.
There is a significant shortage of vaccinators in rural TMK and LHWs are often included in vaccination campaigns to compensate for this shortage. The community gave mixed reviews regarding the frequency of visits and quality of services provided by LHWs. Most residents felt that LHWs are only concerned with the provision of vaccinations, especially the polio vaccine, and do not give due emphasis to hygiene, sanitation, water treatment and illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia.
However, some participants praised LHWs for their efforts in educating mothers about IYCF and the distribution of various supplements and medicines.