Sakina, an experienced Community Health Worker, bridges gaps in rural healthcare by guiding her neighbours to better health – one home visit at a time.

Once a month, Sakina’s home comes alive. Women fill her living room, clustered together on floor cushions and carpets. They drink tea and giggle as their babies crawl around them. They converse, cook a meal and share parenting tips.

But these rendezvous are no social affair. Sakina presides over these sessions as a seasoned Community Health Worker. She has served her community for 15 years, forming a critical link between rural community health care and the formal health care system.

“Each month, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers come to my home for these sessions,” Sakina explains. “I monitor their babies’ growth. I weigh the children, measure their height, and screen for signs of malnutrition.”

“I also lead cooking demonstrations. Many do not know how to cook healthy meals, so I teach them, using ingredients we can find in our village.”