Conditions of employment for community health workers (CHWs) in SA – an essential link between communities and the often-confusing health-care system – are beset with problems. But, reports [s]Daily Maverick[/s], organisations campaigning for the rights of CHWs are hopeful that the release of a draft bill will remedy the most serious problems. Human rights groups, including [b]Section 27, Treatment Action Campaign[/b] and the [b]Rural Health Advocacy Project[/b], have been in talks with the national [b]Health Department[/b] about the draft policy. The policy will provide uniformity in the way CHWs are dealt with in all provinces and address key concerns about wages and employment contracts. CHWs are generally not employed directly by government, but rather by government-funded non-profit organisations.
[link url=http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-07-10-groundup-wheres-the-care-for-community-health-workers/#.U7-sD5SSzE0]Full Daily Maverick report[/link]