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Stories from the field: Special series on the COVID-19 response – Dominica
Date: 08.12.2020 Region Region of the Americas Country Dominica
Community health workers in Dominica lead the fight against COVID-19
Community health workers are at the heart of the COVID-19 response in Dominica’s Roseau Health District. Bringing health care closer to the community through primary health care and training the health workforce in people-centred care has so far proven to be the best protection against the pandemic. Learn how Dominica is strengthening its health system to respond to COVID-19 and provide health for all.
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Donna Edwards is one of the community health workers (CHW) who have been instrumental in providing primary health care services to communities at risk of COVID-19 in Dominica’s Roseau Health District.
“I decided to be trained to become a Community Health Aide because I have a love for my community and other communities. During the pandemic, we have been able to teach hand-washing techniques, proper wearing of masks and social distancing,” said Donna.
The group of CHWs received initial training in people- and community-centred health care from September 2018 to March 2019, with the Community Health Aide Programme. This was part of a larger primary health care (PHC) and health systems strengthening programme supported by PAHO/WHO and funded by the UHC Partnership, one of WHO’s largest initiatives on international cooperation for UHC.
On 30 January 2020, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, declared the COVID-19 outbreak “a public health emergency of international concern” under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). Just over a month later, on 1 March 2020, the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Caribbean. Dominica recorded its first case of COVID-19 on 24 March 2020. Dominica remains proactive in its public health response to prevent community transmission and CHWs are playing a key role.
Dominica has shown its commitment to the implementation, strengthening and capacity building of both its International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and pandemic preparedness by completing the State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting Tool (SPAR) in 2018 and 2019. SPAR consists of 24 indicators needed to detect, assess, notify report and respond to public health risks of domestic and international concern, such as COVID-19.
©PAHO/WHO
Dominica. Photo taken in 2020.