“To fully serve the people and community” exemplifies the common ethos of Community Health Workers (CHWs) anywhere in the world, including New Zealand (NZ). This paper will start with the work scope of CHWs. This will include their diverse roles and responsibilities, where they work, who they work with and how they carry out their work obligations. Secondly, the key health issues of the population that they address will be explored. Lastly, emphasis will be put on their pivotal role towards a more integrated health system.
World Health Organisation defines CHWs as members of the community, chosen and trusted by the community to serve the community, and their actions need to be accountable to the community based on their close understanding …show more content…
Some of the health settings they work in include iwi (Tribe) providers, Māori Health Organisations, not-for-profit organisations, religious-based organisations, government agencies (e.g. District Health Boards), marae (Māori meeting place), schools, universities, polytechnics, community facilities, city and district councils, and corrective institutions. (Ministry of Health, 2014; Kia Ora Hauora, 2012). Mostly, CHWs work for not-for-profit organisations or charitable trusts. Not-for-profit organisations are governed by boards consisting of their members. Their key functions include health, education and social-related services which are usually not fully provided by the government or private organisations, as well as promoting culture and civic activities. They focus on specific groups in the community. They are funded through donations, own fundraisings and government contracts. Their profits will be reinvested to deliver their committed key functions (Cumming et al., 2014). An example would be Te Kohao Health Ltd, a charitable not-for-profit organisation which also functions as an urban marae. Governed by its own board of members, it provides low and no-cost marae-based health and social service facility. It obtains its funding through donations and profits from its Taonga Gift Shop and Kuki’s Café. CHWs in Te Kohao Health provide services like smoking cessation …show more content…
doctors), Community (e.g. trustees of hospitals), Control (e.g. managers) and Care (e.g. nurses). CHWs belong to the world of “care” as they have a similar focus as nurses, which is providing basic care. The main difference that sets them apart would be nurses are based in hospitals, whereas CHWs are based in the community they are from, specialising in community care. CHWs work with sense of high commitment and deep connection to their community as they usually provide their care services continuously. CHWs play the middleman role between doctors and their patients, as well as between the managers and the community. CHWs support and back up the “cure” role in charge by the doctors when they are absent as they cannot possibly be with their patients 24/7. Managers usually “control” from a distance, thus relying on CHWs as the in between feedback link. CHWs’ work mostly involve verbal interactions, thus, to fulfil their professional orientation in providing better care, they must be pre-equipped. At present, they can undergo tertiary education to obtain the pre-requisite skills such as advocacy for modern medicine, knowledge on the interface between western and traditional medicine, cultures of communities, and proficiency in Māori language or other languages, depending on the communities they serve (Boulton et. al.,
World Health Organisation defines CHWs as members of the community, chosen and trusted by the community to serve the community, and their actions need to be accountable to the community based on their close understanding …show more content…
Some of the health settings they work in include iwi (Tribe) providers, Māori Health Organisations, not-for-profit organisations, religious-based organisations, government agencies (e.g. District Health Boards), marae (Māori meeting place), schools, universities, polytechnics, community facilities, city and district councils, and corrective institutions. (Ministry of Health, 2014; Kia Ora Hauora, 2012). Mostly, CHWs work for not-for-profit organisations or charitable trusts. Not-for-profit organisations are governed by boards consisting of their members. Their key functions include health, education and social-related services which are usually not fully provided by the government or private organisations, as well as promoting culture and civic activities. They focus on specific groups in the community. They are funded through donations, own fundraisings and government contracts. Their profits will be reinvested to deliver their committed key functions (Cumming et al., 2014). An example would be Te Kohao Health Ltd, a charitable not-for-profit organisation which also functions as an urban marae. Governed by its own board of members, it provides low and no-cost marae-based health and social service facility. It obtains its funding through donations and profits from its Taonga Gift Shop and Kuki’s Café. CHWs in Te Kohao Health provide services like smoking cessation …show more content…
doctors), Community (e.g. trustees of hospitals), Control (e.g. managers) and Care (e.g. nurses). CHWs belong to the world of “care” as they have a similar focus as nurses, which is providing basic care. The main difference that sets them apart would be nurses are based in hospitals, whereas CHWs are based in the community they are from, specialising in community care. CHWs work with sense of high commitment and deep connection to their community as they usually provide their care services continuously. CHWs play the middleman role between doctors and their patients, as well as between the managers and the community. CHWs support and back up the “cure” role in charge by the doctors when they are absent as they cannot possibly be with their patients 24/7. Managers usually “control” from a distance, thus relying on CHWs as the in between feedback link. CHWs’ work mostly involve verbal interactions, thus, to fulfil their professional orientation in providing better care, they must be pre-equipped. At present, they can undergo tertiary education to obtain the pre-requisite skills such as advocacy for modern medicine, knowledge on the interface between western and traditional medicine, cultures of communities, and proficiency in Māori language or other languages, depending on the communities they serve (Boulton et. al.,