Scaling Up Agents de Santé Communautaire Polyvalent in Haiti
Summary — This report summarizes the first year of a project by Zanmi Lasante (ZL) to strengthen the Agent de Sante Communautaire Polyvalent (ASCP) structure in the Mirebalais commune of Haiti. The project aims to improve health service coverage and serve as a model for national scale-up by addressing funding, human resources, and supervision barriers. ZL is working to align its network of CHWs with MSPP standards, strengthen community-facility linkages, and improve health information systems.
Key Findings
- ASCP training significantly increased participant knowledge, particularly in modules related to work processes and disease prevention.
- The project reached the target ratio of 1 ASCP per 1,000 inhabitants in Mirebalais after recruiting 44 new ASCPs and 4 supervisors.
- Challenges with fund disbursement and scope of work changes delayed the start of training activities.
- The experience is meant to guide ZL, the MOH (MSPP) and all partners when considering the future of the ASCP model in Haiti.
- Many activities done by the ASCP themselves were completed such as vaccination campaigns, weekly education sessions on WASH and maternal/child health, home visits.
Full Description
Zanmi Lasante (ZL) is working under the Haitian Ministry of Health’s (MSPP) leadership to strengthen a unified Agent de Sante Communautaire Polyvalent (ASCP) structure in the Mirebalais commune of Haiti’s Central Plateau. The project aims to achieve and sustain effective coverage of the essential package of health services and to serve as a model for national scale-up. This is being achieved by addressing the prioritized barriers of funding, availability of human resources, and supervision. ZL’s vision is for ASCPs to be directly linked to the health system through a systematic training and certification process, a coordinated referral system, a supportive supervision system, and an improved information systems. The MSPP will thus have the appropriate tools to coordinate all implementing partners and begin harmonizing existing fragmented community health worker (CHW) programs into one unified ASCP structure, fully integrated within the larger health system and fully aligned to national policies and implementation plans.