The Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) is a member of the health team for Primary Health Care (PHC). The Community Health Extension Worker will spend 50% of his time in the clinic. He or she has the responsibility of supervising the Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEW), the Community Health Extension Worker in training, the Volunteer Village Health Workers and the Traditional Birth Attendants. He or she is to be supervised by the Community Health Officer (CHO).

JOB TITLE

Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) or Diploma in Community Health.

LOCATION OF THE JOB

LGA PHC Department or community

PERSONAL QUALIFICATION

i.                   Physically and mentally fit.

ii.                 Able to communicate and work well with people in the community.

iii.              Able to guide, supervise and give good leadership to his subordinates.

iv.               Willing to live and work in the community.

v.                 Mature, approachable, friendly and honest.

vi.               Able to work independently when necessary and make payment.

ENTRY QUALIFICATION

1.                For advancement of confirmed, academically qualified Junior Community Health Extension Worker who has been on the grade for a minimum of 2 years.

2.                Four credit level passes at WAEC, NECO or GCE O’level at not more than two sittings. These must include

3.                Biology or Health Science

4.                One subject chosen from Chemistry, Food & Nutrition, Physics and Geography.

5.                Two subjects chosen from Economics, Accounts, Commerce, Agricultural Science and Social Sciences.

6.                Credit in English language and Mathematics is compulsory

DURATION OF COURSE

3 calendar years.

required within the area of coverage.

28.           Analyze and summarize data collected and present them in simple graphic forms.

29.           Compile monthly returns and reports, and send to the Supervising Officer and the Community Development Committee.

30.           Collect updates from Volunteer Village Health Worker or Traditional Birth Attendant on records of information on births, deaths and new entrants into the community.

31.           Decide, in consultation with Community Health Officer where available, when there is need for more packaged drugs.

32.           Maintain a roster for regular servicing of equipment, if Community Health Officer is not available.

33.           Constantly monitor staff and vehicle movements, if Community Health Officer is not available.

34.           Maintain a roster decided upon with Volunteer Village Health Workers (VVHWs) or Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) for meetings, and inform the community.

35.           Carry out all the other duties assigned him or her by the Supervising Officer.

CLINIC BASED FUNCTIONS

1.0           Provide Integrated Primary Health Care services.

1.1 Organize and run Integrated Primary Health Care Services where the Community Health Officer is not available. These services are listed in the Nigerian National Health Plan and include

1.                Health Education concerning prevention and control of prevailing problems.

2.                Promoting water supply and basic sanitation.

3.                Maternal and child health, including reproductive health, e.g. provision of antenatal care and delivery of normal pregnancy, postnatal care and specified reproductive health services.

4.                Providing immunization services.

5.                Managing logistics and cold chain system.

6.                Carrying out of equipment sterilization according to established protocol.

7.                Treatment of common conditions and injuries.

8.                Performing simple laboratory tests and examination e.g. hemoglobin estimation, stool and urine testing etc.

9.                Keeping and checking that clinic equipment are in safe and good working order.

10.           Promoting mental and dental health.

1.2. Collect and collate monitoring and evaluation data for the National Health Information System (NHIS) from the Community Facility and forward to the Ward level.

1.3. Carry out with Community Health Officer (where available) the day-to-day administration of health services in the target population.

TRAINING FUNCTIONS

1.0 Identify learning needs of Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEWs) and Volunteer Village Health Workers (VVHWs) or Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). And members in the Community Development Committee.

2.0 Provide on the job training as necessary.

3.0 Collaborate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of training programmes for JCHEWs and VVHWs or TBAs.

4.0 Teach the Junior Community Health Extension Workers simple methods of data collection, collation and analysis.

NOTE: A CHEW has now been rated as a skilled Attendant at Birth just like Doctors, Nurses and Midwives by the Federal Government of Nigeria.