A community health worker is a member of a community who is chosen by community members or organizations to provide basic health and medical care within their community and is capable of providing preventive, promotional, and rehabilitation care to that community.
A Community Health Worker Salary In South Africa
A Community health worker typically earns between R5 476 and R14 253 net per month at the start of the job.
After 5 years of service, this is between R7 515 and R18 545 per month for a working week of 45 hours.
How many community health workers are there in South Africa?
55 000 community health workers
South Africa has about 55 000 community health workers, according to a register published in the 2017 District Health Barometer. CHWs have played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the roles of a community health worker?
Community health workers perform a wide range of vital healthcare roles in their communities:
They serve as counselors, helping poor patients overcome the barriers that prevent them from seeking vital healthcare. Patient barriers to care include transportation, lack of awareness, fear, and healthcare costs.
How do I become a community health worker?
Get your high school diploma.
Receive training.
Earn a bachelor’s degree.
Pursue a specialization with a master’s degree.
Get certified.
Maintain your certification.
What are the categories of community health workers?
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are called by a variety of names including Health Auxiliaries, Barefoot Doctors, Health Agents, Health Promoters, Family Welfare Educators, Health Volunteers, Village Health Workers, and Community Health Aides. These individuals can be enormously effective.
Can a community health worker open a clinic?
Community health extension workers are not legally allowed to own a private clinic not even nurses or pharmacists.
Only a medical doctor is backed by law to own and operate a private hospital or clinic.
Community health extension workers are very crucial to our health care as they bridge that wide gap in accessing health.