Follow-up, Support, and
Continued Learning
10CHAPTER
10-1
What and how health workers continue to learn after a training course has ended
is just as important as the course itself. The support and advice they receive, and the
people who provide it, can make a big difference in the health workers’ success or
failure once they return to their communities.
‘SUPERVISION’ OR SUPPORT?
The word supervision is often used to refer to the process of advising and giving
support to health workers. But the word supervisor brings to mind an overseer or
policeman—someone bigger and better than the persons being ‘watched over’. Many
health programs speak of supportive supervision, in which the supervisor’s role
is more to assist and give suggestions than to discipline and make sure orders are
followed. Some community-based programs have dropped the terms ‘supervision’
and ‘supervisor’ altogether. They prefer friendlier, more equal sounding terms, such
as ‘follow-up’ conducted by ‘advisers’ or ‘fellow members of the health team’. In this
book we usually speak of support, back-up, and advisers.
Clearly, the words used are not as important as the attitudes and relationships
behind them. But without a doubt, effective support involves far more than just
supervision.
The ideal support system is made up of 4 different sources:
1. The health worker’s village or
community. This is especially
helpful if an honest, active health
committee has been formed.
2. Other health workers in
nearby villages or communities.
Those who have been working
longer and have more experience
can be especially helpful.
3. Instructors or advisers from
the local health program (or the local
branch of a larger program).
4. Hospitals, clinics, and agencies
to which special problems can be
referred. Health officers, agricultural
experts, veterinarians, and others
may be asked for help and advice
when needed.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
FOR THE VILLAGE HEALTH WORKER
(arrows indicate two-way
communication and assistance)
health workers from
neighboring villages
hospitals
and other
outside
assistance
for referral
and support
-doctors,
agriculturists,
etc.
village
and village
health committee
local health
program (or
branch-advisers,
instructors, etc.