Community-Based Programs

Community Health Worker Supervisor Ramatu Jalloh visits Fanta Kanawa, who recently began receiving visits, at her home in Koidu Town.

Our community-based programs address barriers and empower individuals to access care and continue follow-up treatment. This multifaceted approach ensures that no one is left behind.

Our Impact

Community-based programs help PIH to better understand patients’ and communities’ needs by providing non-judgmental, in-community support. Meeting patients where they are leads to understanding where they want to be and how that can be achieved. This way PIH can eliminate barriers to health and wellbeing.  

  • Medical Visit
    123
    Community Health Workers

    accompany patients across Kono District to strengthen clinical referral and follow-up care

  • Growth, support
    6,093
    patients

    were supported in 2024 with cash transfers to cover their acute needs and promote adherence to care plans

  • Open Book
    79
    graduates

    successfully completed the accelerated learning program in 2024

PIH’s community-based programs go beyond simply finding patients in communities and linking them to care but also focus on providing compassion and guidance when patients receive clinical care and lending understanding and a supportive ear when they struggle to achieve good health outcomes. The community programs understand that a patient is, first and foremost, a person, and that care and support is needed beyond what can be provided in health facilities. This means recognizing that health and wellbeing are strongly impacted by social, economic, cultural, and political circumstances.

Community Health Workers

The dedicated team of 123 PIH-SL community health workers (CHWs) plays a vital role in providing compassionate support and guidance to patients striving for optimal health outcomes. In Kono District, these CHWs serve over 4,600 patients affected by tuberculosis (TB), HIV, or co-infections, ensuring they receive regular home visits, assistance with medication adherence, and psychosocial care. CHWs remind patients of clinical appointments and frequently accompany them to these visits. The mobile app Comm Care helps CHWs to collect data on the go and facilitates quick and accurate data usage. Notably, many CHWs are individuals living with HIV or are former TB patients, which allows them to offer empathetic peer-to-peer support and a deep understanding of the challenges associated with these diseases.

Community health worker Mariama Augustina Yomba (right) conducts a home visit with her patient, Alice.

Community health worker Mariama Augustina Yomba (right) conducts a home visit with her patient, Alice.

AbuBakarr Tappiah Sesay / PIH

Acute Needs Program

PIH-SL’s Acute Needs Program (ANP) provides essential short-term cash transfers to support the most vulnerable patients as well as nutritional assistance for children at risk of malnutrition. CHWs and clinicians identify vulnerable patients on a weekly basis, ensuring timely support. The ANP committee, which includes clinical leads from PIH-SL, social workers, and community program representatives, assesses eligibility for financial assistance. In total, 6,093 patients received cash transfers across all PIH-supported facilities and communities in 2024. At the Wellbody Clinic, a new canteen was established to produce Bennimix, a nutritious blended meal designed for infants and children. This initiative facilitates the preparation and distribution of meals to children at risk of malnutrition, ensuring they receive vital nutrition to support their growth and health.

Abibatu Fofanah and her son Ibrahim take part in making Bennimix at Wellbody Clinic. The nutritious blended meal is designed for infants and children to combat malnutrition.

Abibatu Fofanah and her son Ibrahim take part in making Bennimix at Wellbody Clinic. The nutritious blended meal is designed for infants and children to combat malnutrition.

AbuBakarr Tappiah Sesay / PIH

Adult Education

In both Kono and Port Loko District PIH provides adult education opportunities to combat high illiteracy rates in rural areas. The program first started in Port Loko District supporting the country’s approximately 4,000 Ebola survivors. It has now grown to reach all interested community members in both districts and has gone beyond basic literacy and numeracy to include business planning and a financial savings association. In 2023, we celebrated a total of 99 graduates who successfully completed the adult literacy program. To foster a safe and conducive learning environment, four training centers underwent renovations. In 2024 we proudly celebrated the achievements of 79 high-performing learners who graduated from the Accelerated Learning Program, marking a significant milestone in the efforts to empower individuals through education.