Résumé
@#For public health response to be effective, it is essential that we identify support mechanisms for people working in challenging response environments. The Regional Office for the Western Pacific needs programmes, such as Field Epidemiology Training Programmes, to ensure sustained workforce development. However, during crises a modified mentorship-like program may foster temporary support and empowerment within the workforce.
Résumé
@#In Papua New Guinea, village health volunteers (VHVs) work in their communities to support healthy lifestyles. They form an important link between the community and the formal health system. In the Middle and South Fly Districts of Western Province, the VHV Program was implemented as one of the many interventions of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement Middle and South Fly Health Program. For this region of Papua New Guinea, it would be the first time the VHV Program had been implemented. We describe how the VHV Program was implemented and document the perspectives of the VHV Program from the VHVs, their supervising health workers and the communities they serve through focus group discussions and interviews. The qualitative data revealed that some health workers and community members had expectations of the VHVs that differed from their role, particularly in regard to the expectation that VHVs do clinical work. The importance of compensation for VHVs for their time was identified by communities, health workers and the VHVs. VHVs and the community also noted the conflicting demands of the family of the VHV and their work in the community. The final theme identified was about the interaction between the VHV and the formal health system, where VHVs identified needs for access to medical supplies, transport, ongoing training and supervision. These themes are discussed in the context of the international literature and the VHV policy in Papua New Guinea.