Community-Driven Care: Improving Health at the Local Level

The USAID Systems for Health Project – led by University Research Co. – provides technical assistance to the Ghana Health Service’s Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Initiative. The effort is bringing health services to communities, developing sustainable volunteerism and community health action, empowering women and vulnerable groups, and improving health provider, household, and community interaction. 

Systems for Health works with approximately 500 CHPS zones to help build the capacity of community health workers and create effective community engagement through regular Community Health Management Committees (CHMC) meetings and community durbars. These gatherings help improve the uptake of services delivered – including family planning, nutrition, malaria, and maternal health services.

Systems for Health commissioned a photographer to document a CHMC meeting, durbar, and a child welfare clinic held at locations in Ga West Municipality in April 2018, which has seen effective community engagement through regular CHMC meetings and community durbars. Our research indicates that community ownership of and participation in the CHPS concept is key to improving health.