Table 4 Community health services in North and South Kivu

Community health services

• Health posts: Established when communities are more than five km away from the health center. They are run by a nurse responsible to treat a limited number of conditions for children and adults (e.g. malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory tract infections). No inpatient service is available, and deliveries are usually not conducted;

• Treatment sites: Established in areas where one or more villages have difficulties in accessing treatment. Treatment of cases of malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia without complications are provided by two CHWs who are trained and supervised by the nurse of the responsible health center; and

• CHWs: National policy foresees one CHW every 10 villages, which are organized under “cellule d’animation communautaire” for every 40 villages. CHWs are chosen by the villages under their responsibility. No specific training is needed to become a CHW, but literacy and numeracy are required. CHWs are meant to be trained and supervised by the health center. CHWs refer serious cases to the closest health facility, conduct behavior change communication and contribute to the community- based epidemiological surveillance.