Community Health Workers (CHWs) programme has been in existence in Fiji since 1978.
But for the first time, its policy and training manuals were launched by the Ministry for Health and Medical Services Jone Usamate last Friday in Lami.
Mr Usamate said the policy and training manuals would help the health officers to train community health workers.
“Their inclusion in the health system has evidently led to improved health outcomes,” he said.
He said the programme was initially set up to address the shortage of health professionals but now plays a crucial role in broadening access to other services including the coverage of health services in remote areas.
“Community Health Workers are viewed as an engine of change in enhancing primary health care and health promotion in Communities.
Since October, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has registered 1580 active CHWs from the different communities in Fiji.
Mr Usamate said the increase in CHWs and retention in numbers can be attributed and the ministry has acknowledged the tremendous support provided by the Australian government through the Fiji Health Sector Strengthening Programme (FHSSP).
“These modular training manuals will be used by our officers at the primary health care level to train CHWs,” Mr Usamate said.