THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS IN HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY: A CASE OF THE COMMUNITY BASED AGENTS ON THE COMMUNITY INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES PROGRAMME IN THE NADOWLI DISTRICT

Abstract

Evidence indicates that health policies and Programmes' that deem to bring health services to the door-steps of the people pivot on Community Health Workers/Volunteers. The reality however is, the much depended on Community Workers/Volunteers are making very little impact in the reduction of child mortality (MDG 4) in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region though international organizations like UNICEF are giving support through the Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses Programme. In this light, I set out to assess the effectiveness of the Community Based Agents role in the implementation of the Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses Programme aimed at reducing infant mortality in the Nadowli District. To achieve the research goal and objectives, the study used both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis. These included interviews and desk reviews. The main findings are: the level of education among CBAs was generally low, with as many as 38.5% of the 26 CBAs without formal education. Secondly, the findings revealed that no single motivational package specified by the C-IMCI Programme to be given to CBAs by the community was honoured. Logistics availability and supply for the CBAs to carry out their activities was challenged with supply irregularities. Thirdly, the survey findings revealed that all the CBAs' coordinators supported the adequacy of the CBAs in the identification of danger signs and symptoms of cases to be referred to the health facilities, with the surety that the level oftraining given to them was enough. Fourthly, The Health education, though limited, had a positive outcome on the responses of Mothers and or Caregivers having had their under-fives immunized against the 5 childhood killer diseases; that is 90% of Mothers and or Caregivers with under-fives having celebrated the first birth day were fully immunized with all the five antigens to give their children immunity against the childhood killer diseases.