In June 2020 five organizations came together with the goal of equipping and protecting community health workers (CHWs) in Africa. In a recently released report the COVID-19 Action Fund for Africa (CAF-Africa) outlines how between June 2020 and May 2021, CAF-Africa mobilized more than $18.5 million in financial and in-kind contributions to procure and distribute 81.6 million units of personal protective equipment (PPE) (including surgical and non-surgical masks, KN95 masks, gloves, eye protection and gowns) to nearly 480,000 CHWs in 18 sub-Saharan African countries.
The report outlines the impact, as well as details the journey of how CAF-Africa was able to quantify PPE needs for 18 countries, procure PPE and deliver equipment to remote communities in Africa.
Since the pandemic is not over the need for PPE remains, especially for CHWs in Africa who serve on the frontlines of any disease outbreak. Therefore, the report also outlines recommendations for the future based on lessons learned; and advocates for the professionalization of CHWs to ensure they are paid and included in medical supply chains. This will not only ensure more communities have access to routine health care, but also ensure more countries are better equipped and prepared for the next pandemic.