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LADY HEALTH WORKERS (LHWs)
To achieve the goals of the program, Lady Health Workers (LHWs) from various communities are choosen. LHWs are educated and belong to their own communities, reducing the unfamiliarity differences. They are paid, trained, supervised by a predefined criteria. A trained LHW can provide all basic health care facilites to her own community. Supervisors are appointed to supervise the work of LHW.
Uptil now, National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health care has around 100,000 LHWs working in almost every part of Pakistan and providing primary health care facilities to the community.
LHWs can provide promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to the community. They also educate and provide Family Planning methods and MCH services.
Selection Criteria for Lady Health Workers
Lady Health Workers are recruited with following criteria:
- Local Resident
- Middle School Pass
- Preferably Married
- Minimum Age 18 years
- Recommended by / acceptable to the Community
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Selection Process of LHWs
Process of selection includes:
- Identification of areas/Health facilities
- Advertisement in News papers (Local)
- Application at Health facility
- Assessment/interview at Health facility
- Selection committee chaired by Medical Officer Incharge, community representative as member
- Verification by District Health Officer / Coordinator/ Female Police Officer / Female Supervisor
- Appointment letter by DHO
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Training of LHWs & Subject Covered
LHWs are trained before their deployment in the community. They are taught about:
- Community Organization
- Inter Personal Communication Skills
- Maternal Health
- Nutrition
- Family Planning
- Child Health (Acute Respiratory Illnesses, Extended Program of Immunization, CDD)
- Care of Sick - Common diseases and their prevention
- Hygiene - Clean drinking water and sanitation
- Basic Data Collection and Importance of Health Management Information Systems
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Treatment Component
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Duration
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Modules Used
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Class Room + Practical
(Health Education, Charts, Videos)
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03 Months
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LHW Module
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Field Practice + Class Room (one week per month)
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12 Months
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LHW Module, Practice Training & Problem Based
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Field Practice + Class Room (one day per month)
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Monthly
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LHW Module & Problem Based
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Stipend to LHWs
Rs. 3190/- per month
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Scope of Work for LHWs
LHWs are posted in their community and are involved in the following type of work:
- Organize community by developing women groups and health committees
- Act as liaison between formal health system and community
- Register all eligible couples (married women age 15-49 years)
- Disseminate health education message on hygiene and sanitation
- Provide condoms, oral pills to eligible couples and refer clients needing IUD (intrauterine device) insertions, contraceptive surgery and injectables
- Coordinate with TBAs (traditional birth attendants) and local health facilities
- Undertake nutritional interventions such as anemia control, growth monitoring, and emphasize on breast feeding and weaning practices
- Coordinate with EPI (extended program of immunization) for immunization of mothers against tetanus and children against six immunizable diseases
- Carry out prevention and treatment of minor ailments
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LHWs Involvement in Other Activities
Beside provision of necessary services listed above, LHWs are also involved in other activities like:
- Door to door Polio immunization during NPIDs (National Polio immunization days)
- Distribution of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt) in flood/rain affected areas in Punjab
- Assistance in relief activities like Gas Poisoning and Hepatitis outbreak in Lahore
- Assistance in relief activities for earthquake/flood/drought affected areas in Balochistan
- Motivation of clients for surgical contraceptive camps with FPAP (Family Planning Association of Pakistan)
- Participation in mopping exercise during polio outbreak in Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts of NWFP and district Quetta of Balochistan.
- Assistance in cyclone /drought affected areas in Sindh.
A Single LHW is posted for 1000 houses.
LHWs report to their supervisors once per week and submit their progress reports and HMIS tools. They also discuss their problems and give suggestions for further improvement of the system. Every LHW maintains a book register of logistics.
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Provision of Primary Health Care Services by the Lady Health Workers
LHWs provide following primary heatlh care services to the community:
- Treatment of minor ailments (and referral to the First level care facility when required).
- Registration of pregnant mothers for antenatal care.
- Counseling of pregnant and lactating mothers in related issues.
- Screening on neonate for referral requiring problems.
- Weight monitoring of the children under three years of age.
- Counseling regarding breast feeding and weaning.
- Counseling of eligible couples regarding family planning.
- Provision of medicines and contraceptives to patients and clients.
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HMIS Tools Used By LHWs
LHWs are also trained about the basic tools for HMIS. They use:
- Map of Community
- Family (Khandan) register
- Community chart
- Treatment and Family Planning register
- Diary
- Mother and Child Health Card
- Referral slips
- Monthly report of LHW
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List of Drugs/Medicines provided by LHWs
As a part of curative services, LHWs are responsible for the provision following medicines/items at the time of need:
- Paracetamol Tabs 500mg
- Chloroquine Tabs 150mg
- Mabendazole Tabs 100mg
- ORS
- Cotrimoxazole Syp.
- Ferrous Fumerate 150mg + Folic Acid 0.5mg
- Cotton Bandages 4” x 3m
- Benzyl Benzoate Lotion
- Paracetamol Syp 120mg/ml
- Chloroquine Syp 50mg/5ml
- Piperazine Syp 500ml/5ml
- Polymyxin “B” Sulphate Eye Ointment (4 Gram)
- B.complex Syp Complex
- Antiseptic Lotion
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List of Non-Drug Items
- Cotton Wool (250 Gram)
- Sticking Plaster 1” x 5m
- Pencil Torch with Two Cells
- Thermometer Clinical
- Scissors
- LHW Kit Bags
- Salter Scale with Trouser
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