In order to strengthen the work accomplished at the local health centers, CBHEP is also developing a network of Village Health Volunteers (VHV) in the villages they serve. VHVs are local women between 25 and 45 years old who volunteer their time to work with an identified group of families, teaching them about basic health care and acting as a referral point for both the health center and the hospital.
Volunteers elected from each village spend six days learning about health promotion regarding: immunization, breastfeeding, nutrition, vitamin A, respiratory infections, diarrhea, HIV/AIDS, birth-spacing, malaria and dengue fever. During their training, VHV’s receive a small perdiem ($3.80) to cover travel and meal costs. In addition they receive a health promotion pack which includes flyers about the above topics, the UNICEF facts For Life book, a Health Education Manual (developed by CBHEP), thermometer, diarrhea prevention kit and other tools.
