In January of 2021, the Coronavirus was running rampant in cities throughout the United States. In Alabama, cases were rising at an alarming rate and the death tolls were increasing each day. Alabama, just like other states, found itself in a dilemma of how to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Winning the Fight Against COVID-19 in Montgomery
In Montgomery, there were 24,983 cases and 603 deaths in January 2021, according to the New York Times. Most of the cases and deaths were in low- and moderate-income areas of the city.
Mayor Steven Reed became increasingly disturbed at how the virus was impacting the city so he created a task force to see what could be done. The task force met for several weeks and decided that for the residents of Montgomery to win this fight with COVID-19, that it would have to solicit the aid of trusted individuals who are from the affected communities.
It was suggested that they use individuals called Community Health Workers.
Increasing Healthcare Through Trust
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a front-line public health worker who is a trusted member of and/ or has a close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison between health/social services and the community to create better access to health services while improving the quality and cultural competence of services.
A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy.
Leading COVID-19 Prevention Efforts
CDC has capped the percent of population coverage metrics at 99.9%. These metrics could be greater than 99.9% for multiple reasons, including census denominator data not including all individuals that currently reside in the county (e.g., part-time residents) or potential data reporting errors. Estimates may change as new data are made available. Visit covid.cdc.gov/ covid-data-tracker to view other counties.
It was suggested that TWC take leadership along with Partners in Health (PIH) to develop and implement this push to eradicate and slow the spread of this deadly disease.
The Wellness Coalition hired ten CHWs to reach Montgomery’s most vulnerable community members with critical public health messaging,
chronic disease management support, and referrals to care and social support. CHWs will help address the social determinants of poor health that disproportionately affect low-income, minority populations that have been magnified during the COVID-19 crisis.
Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and other communities of color are underrepresented in front-line jobs, less likely to be provided personal protective equipment by their employer, more reliant on public transportation, and live in more crowded home settings.
These same individuals are more likely to be impacted by chronic diseases and are less likely to have a primary care provider. As a result, these communities have suffered from the effects of COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white people.
How CHWS Support Community Members
CHWs are uniquely poised to play a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic and ensuring equity in communities hardest hit by the virus. CHWs have been shown to improve health knowledge, reduce cost to the healthcare system, and lower the burdens of illness among people with chronic diseases, improving their ability to manage their own conditions. Therefore, the focus of the Community Health Worker Program is to:
- Prevent the spread of COVID-19 by increasing health knowledge, combating misinformation, and making recommendations about protective health measures.
- Reduce the spread of COVID-19 by building connections to social support.
- Support high-risk populations by providing preventative care resources to reduce complications from COVID-19.
- Help those exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by supporting isolation and quarantine.
Collaboration with Partners In Health
In order to further provide the necessary support, TWC is working with Partners in Health (PIH). PIH is a Boston-based nonprofit healthcare organization founded in 1987 by Paul Farmer, Ophelia Dahl, Thomas J. White, Todd McCormack, and Jim Yong Kim. The organization’s goals are “to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair.” Some of PIH’s initiatives include:
- Providing healthcare in the poorest areas of developing countries
- Building hospitals and other medical facilities
- Hiring and training local staff
- Delivering a range of healthcare, from in-home consultations to cancer treatments
PIH also removes barriers to maintaining good health, such as dirty water or a lack of food, and strengthens the rights of the poor. The approach trades charity for “accompaniment,” which is described as a “dogged commitment to doing whatever it takes to give the poor a fair shake.”
While many of its principles are rooted in liberation theology, the organization is secular. It forms long-term partnerships with, and works on behalf of, local ministries of health. PIH currently holds a 4 out of 4 stars rating from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit evaluator.