Community Health Workers: An Underappreciated Asset to Tackle NCD Global Heart (formerly CVD Prevention and Control)
Wednesday, 2 July, 2025
Low- and middle-income countries are increasingly facing a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), compounded by undernutrition, overnutrition, urbanization, and strained health systems. A major challenge is the lack of a skilled health workforce equipped to manage chronic conditions. While scaling up formal training is essential, Community Health Workers (CHWs) offer a powerful, often underutilized solution. Embedded within their communities, CHWs bring local knowledge and act as service extenders and agents of change. Despite limited formal training, their reach and impact in underserved areas make them vital to addressing NCDs, warranting their integration into formal health systems
