b'IMPACT STATEMENT 2021The Boma Health Workers: last mile health deliveryIn South Sudan, providing essential health care forFreza, also a Boma Health Worker and ex-army officer, communities poses a significant challenge. Its land iswas appointed by the tribal leaders of his community. covered by rich savannas, swamplands, and rainforests.At first, no one in my community believed COVID-19 Its road network is limited and can be dangerous, andwas real. But I know it is, so I keep urging people to during wet season 60% of it is flooded. On the remainingwash their hands, so they dont get infected. Within my roads, armed ambushes are frequent, and until 2020small community, COVID-19 would spread very fast and the country suffered from a rampant civil war, whichwith everyone being ill, we would not be able to work to increased insecurity on the streets. provide food and shelter for our families. I am glad83% of the population live in rural areas, spread outI can play my part in stopping its spread.across the country. Seemingly impossible to reach, To ensure the Boma Health Workers can provide the food insecurity and a lack of basic healthcare are a dailybest care possible, the HPF programme supplies them reality. Providing food or medicines to aid the populationwith medicines to distribute within their communities. seems an insurmountable task. Through training and mentorship, they are also qualified Yet, the Health Pooled Fund (HPF), managed by to refer cases of more complicated conditions to Crown Agents, is taking on the challenge. Coveringassociated health facilities, screen for malnutrition80% of the country, it helps hundreds of thousands ofand share their knowledge of preventative healthcarecitizens, including marginalised communities in remoteby offering health talks to the community.areas, to access basic medical services. The Boma Health Worker Initiative has meant that each Many remote communities are not linked to the formalmonth over 150,000 children are treated for illnesses health system. This means that women often give birthsuch as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea across all in challenging circumstances, or that their newbornscounties supported by the programme, including some do not receive the medical care they need to ensureof the most remote communities in South Sudan.protection from illnesses such as malaria. To extend health services to communities in ruralareas, the HPF programme is working with the MinistryA total of 4,400 Boma of Health to implement the Boma Health WorkersHealth Workers have initiative (BHI). The BHI is designed to standardise the package of community health services, strengthenbeen trained in the linkages between communities and health facilities, last two years and improve community ownership and governanceof health services.The initiative provides continuous training for the BomaOver 1 million Health Workers (BHW) on health issues such as safe motherhood, family planning, sexual and gender-basedchildren have been violence, and identification and treatment of simpletreated for malaria by cases of malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia in children under five. This education and experience is then usedBoma Health Workers to support better healthcare within their communities. since 2019Hessien is one of the Boma Health Workers. A former soldier, he has made it his mission to save as many lives as he can, taking a special interest in the most vulnerablewomen and children. After being involved in the war, I wanted to do something to lessen the suffering of my people. My community did not know about the medical treatments available and how they can help their children, he says. Clinics are far away and have long waiting times. Walking there means you could miss several days of work and not be able to afford food. Travelling can also be dangerous. Since I have started to talk to people about the services I can provide, pregnant women come to me to be treated, and they also bring their children once they are born. They trust me, and I am proud that I can save lives. I have even made space in my house so I can care for people long-term, if needed.20'