Within the framework of the international cooperation project to support local development in Angola, funded by the European Union and managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) and the Angolan Social Support Fund (FAS), some members of the beneficiary communities of the project were chosen to work on the goal of improving local development. They are Community Health Workers (ADECOS).

The workers were selected based on their qualities and skills in a participatory fashion by members of their community. The community workers, hired by the Municipal Administration, work under the supervision of the Angolan Social Support Fund (FAS) and will be evaluated monthly.

The first 540 workers selected have already started their work in the rural areas of 18 municipalities in six Angolan provinces: Bengo, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Malanje, Moxico and Uíge.

The creation of the figure of community health worker was based on the National Policy of Community Health Workers (PNADECOS), which was created in response to the Angolan government’s goal of extending social and health services to all families in the country, particularly in the most vulnerable and remote areas.

Functions of the community health worker

The worker is responsible for promoting development of the community and households in their area of intervention. By working daily with the families, leaders and professionals in their community.

Their tasks will include visiting homes to keep track of children not enrolled in school; creating registers of families, unrecorded births and unvaccinated children; and monitoring basic sanitation conditions, all for the purpose of bringing municipal social services to families.