About 3 kilometers away form the health center, we visit an outreach event. All 12 CHVs are present here in purple shirts (a group photo was taken). A large tent is set up in an open field, and anyone can come for free health services.

One area in the tent has toy section for children. The kids are observed while playing with the toys to determine their level of development.

Elsewhere in the tent there’s a registration area, where the client’s name, age, gender, temperature are noted. If someone has a fever, they will get a RDT at a table a few meters away. If positive, the patient receives free treatment.

People living in this community are far more likely to come to an event like this, which takes place every month, than to the health center. The fear is that although malaria treatment is free at the health center too, if there are any other complications then further tests are needed, and they run the risk having to pay for those.

This system of community health volunteers is considered a great success. Not only does it provide early diagnosis (important to reduce transmission rates), it also serves as a platform of advice to members o the community. The CHVs live in the community are are readily available if there’s a health-related issue (not just malaria).

The CHVs are often highly motivated despite the fact that that don’t get paid (aside from a tiny stipend). Many of them had experiences with malaria in the past, and the people they help with are usually people they already know very well.

With Global Fund support, the CHVs get trained for 14 days and learn to diagnose and treat uncomplicated malaria cases, although it takes about 2 years of working experience for a CHV to become fully experienced and functional. They also learn about common ailments like diarrhea.