The Growing Burden: Workload on Community Health Officers

Workload on Community Health Officers

Abstract

Community Health Officers (CHOs) are essential in delivering primary healthcare services particularly in rural and underserved areas. However, the increasing workload on CHOs poses significant challenges to their efficiency and well-being. This commentary explores the expanded responsibilities of CHOs, including clinical duties and extensive administrative tasks, which contribute to their growing burden. Additionally, it addresses the lack of support from Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) in Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), leading CHOs to assume tasks typically managed by ANMs. To mitigate this issue, it is crucial to establish clear roles and responsibilities for both CHOs and ANMs, ensuring accountability through block authority oversight, the implementation of structured guidelines, inclusion of ANMs in review meetings and display of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials.