Here are extracts from the WHO Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control (pages 88-90). Full text: https://iris.who.int/items/30e47177-9f70-4e73-b130-2cfe0fd374fa
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Community mobilization is a process of engaging communities and generating support for all those in need of health services (for example, cervical cancer prevention and control), resulting in sustainable community ownership and participation...
Effective preventive care at health-care facilities requires not only setting up the service, but – equally important – engaging the community so that they understand and utilize it...
Health-care providers are often overburdened with caring for patients, which makes it difficult to get out into the community. Community health workers, volunteers and facility managers can be mobilized to provide community education and outreach...
Many health systems use trained community health workers (CHWs) to educate community members about prevention and to promote available health services. CHWs can serve as a bridge between health services and the community and are recognized worldwide as an essential part of any health-care team. Their peer-to-peer approach helps to gain the trust of families who can benefit from information and advice on both vaccination and screening programmes, addressing any fears or concerns that may be present.
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Can you add to the above? What does community mobilisation mean in your context? Are you a community health worker or do you support CHWs? What are the challenges and opportunities for CHWs in increasing uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment?
Many thanks, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org