CAIRO – Today, USAID/Egypt and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Population celebrated the launch of a new nationwide Community Health Worker Strategy that will help Egyptians gain greater access to health information and advice.

“Community Health Workers serve as a vital connection between the people and the health system,” said USAID/Egypt Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin.  “This new strategy provides the framework to ensure that all 14,000 Community Health Workers will continue to provide low-cost, high-impact health advisory services to their communities.”

The USAID-funded Improving Maternal, Child and Health Nutrition Services in Egypt (IMCHN) project completed a strategic review and assessment of the existing Community Health Worker program; this assessment was integrated into the new nationwide strategy to support a stronger connection between Egyptians and the health workers in their communities. The four pillars of the strategy include capacity building, partnership with other ministries and NGOs, institutionalization and governance of the Health and Population Ministry, and emphasizing quality services and community awareness.

For nearly 40 years, USAID has worked with the Egyptian people to improve health by supporting maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, immunization, and disease prevention activities.  The IMCHN project is part of the $30 billion the American people have invested in Egypt through USAID since 1978.  To find out more about USAID’s work in Egypt, please visit https://www.usaid.gov/egypt, and follow @USAIDEgypt on Facebook and Twitter.

###