Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021
Uganda's initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response strategy was institutional isolation and management of confirmed cases, and physical monitoring for contacts of confirmed cases. However, this strategy was replaced by the home-based care (HBC) strategy once the epidemic expanded and...
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African Field Epidemiology Network
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/series/6/1/13/full/ |
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| author | Ben Masiira Atek Kagirita Herbert Kazoora Bernard Lubwama Emmanuel Kaggwa Faith Nakiyimba Issa Makumbi Winyi Kaboyo Daniel Albert Cohn Simon Nyovuura Antara Henry Mwebesa |
| author_facet | Ben Masiira Atek Kagirita Herbert Kazoora Bernard Lubwama Emmanuel Kaggwa Faith Nakiyimba Issa Makumbi Winyi Kaboyo Daniel Albert Cohn Simon Nyovuura Antara Henry Mwebesa |
| author_sort | Ben Masiira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Uganda's initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response strategy was institutional isolation and management of confirmed cases, and physical monitoring for contacts of confirmed cases. However, this strategy was replaced by the home-based care (HBC) strategy once the epidemic expanded and overstretched the country's health system. The Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) rolled out the HBC strategy in Masaka District from January-May 2021. The objective was to document experiences and lessons learned to guide the rollout of the HBC strategy elsewhere in the country. Implementation of the HBC strategy involved identification and orientation of the key stakeholders on COVID-19 infection, HBC procedures and criteria, and activation of the COVID-19 coordination structures. We enhanced COVID-19 surveillance and conducted community sensitization on COVID-19 and the HBC strategy. Essential supplies for HBC were procured and distributed to community volunteers/ village health teams (VHTs). Monthly supervision visits were conducted to assess progress, provide technical support, and review data quality. Findings showed that the HBC intervention was initially met with skepticism among health care workers due to the fear of delayed detection of severe symptoms by VHTs and risk of infection among household contacts. When VHTs were empowered with knowledge and skills, and provided with the required supplies, they managed to safely implement COVID-19 HBC. The HBC strategy was accepted within the community and among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Lack of adequate space for home isolation and stigmatization by the community were the main challenges reported by patients. Community-based approaches should be therefore used to address stigmatization and to make patients feel secure in the community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e99836638cb74874a91af87b6ba45a74 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2664-2824 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | African Field Epidemiology Network |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e99836638cb74874a91af87b6ba45a742025-08-20T02:33:35ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242023-10-0164https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph.supp.2023.6.3.06.13Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021Ben Masiira0Atek Kagirita1Herbert Kazoora2Bernard Lubwama3Emmanuel Kaggwa4Faith Nakiyimba5Issa Makumbi6Winyi Kaboyo7Daniel Albert Cohn8Simon Nyovuura Antara9Henry Mwebesa10African Field Epidemiology Network, Programs Department, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaAfrican Field Epidemiology Network, Programs Department, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaMasaka District Local Government, Department of Health, Masaka, UgandaMasaka District Local Government, Department of Health, Masaka, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaDAI, Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa (TDDA) programme, Kampala, UgandaDAI, Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa (TDDA) programme, Apsley, Hertfordshire, United KingdomAfrican Field Epidemiology Network, Programs Department, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaUganda's initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response strategy was institutional isolation and management of confirmed cases, and physical monitoring for contacts of confirmed cases. However, this strategy was replaced by the home-based care (HBC) strategy once the epidemic expanded and overstretched the country's health system. The Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) rolled out the HBC strategy in Masaka District from January-May 2021. The objective was to document experiences and lessons learned to guide the rollout of the HBC strategy elsewhere in the country. Implementation of the HBC strategy involved identification and orientation of the key stakeholders on COVID-19 infection, HBC procedures and criteria, and activation of the COVID-19 coordination structures. We enhanced COVID-19 surveillance and conducted community sensitization on COVID-19 and the HBC strategy. Essential supplies for HBC were procured and distributed to community volunteers/ village health teams (VHTs). Monthly supervision visits were conducted to assess progress, provide technical support, and review data quality. Findings showed that the HBC intervention was initially met with skepticism among health care workers due to the fear of delayed detection of severe symptoms by VHTs and risk of infection among household contacts. When VHTs were empowered with knowledge and skills, and provided with the required supplies, they managed to safely implement COVID-19 HBC. The HBC strategy was accepted within the community and among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Lack of adequate space for home isolation and stigmatization by the community were the main challenges reported by patients. Community-based approaches should be therefore used to address stigmatization and to make patients feel secure in the community.https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/series/6/1/13/full/onavirus disease 2019 (covid-19)home-based care (hbc)village health teams (vhts)uganda |
| spellingShingle | Ben Masiira Atek Kagirita Herbert Kazoora Bernard Lubwama Emmanuel Kaggwa Faith Nakiyimba Issa Makumbi Winyi Kaboyo Daniel Albert Cohn Simon Nyovuura Antara Henry Mwebesa Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021 Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health onavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) home-based care (hbc) village health teams (vhts) uganda |
| title | Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021 |
| title_full | Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021 |
| title_short | Implementing COVID-19 home-based care (HBC) using community health volunteers: Early experiences and lessons learned in Uganda, January - May 2021 |
| title_sort | implementing covid 19 home based care hbc using community health volunteers early experiences and lessons learned in uganda january may 2021 |
| topic | onavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) home-based care (hbc) village health teams (vhts) uganda |
| url | https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/series/6/1/13/full/ |
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