Health extension officer

Edited by Frank Yagahe, Divine Word University. Madang, PNG (22/05/23)

In Papua New Guinea, Health Extension Officers (HEO) are trained with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Rural Health. This study program is provided by one of the Universities in Papua New Guinea, the Divine Word University. The program which focuses upon preparation for clinical and administrative practices in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea where health services are at most times neglected. The four-year training program includes theoretical study in medicine, minor surgery, pediatrics, obstetric and gynecology, health awareness, health research, rural health facility management, health project management etc, as well as extended placements in hospitals and health centers for practical application of learning.[1] Health Extension Officers are responsible for patient care, the administration of the local health center, and the coordination of community health services.

The HEO training program is PNG’s home grown program to meet the health care demands and need of rural PNG. The training started in 1960 as a one year post graduate certificate course for male nurses at the Papuan Medical College in Taurama, Port Moresby, under the auspice of the national Department of Health. In 1967 the training program was moved to Madang, which is currently located as Modilon Campus. It was changed to Paramedical College and then to College of Allied Health Sciences. The certificate course was upgraded to Diploma in Applied health Sciences. In the preceding years, the second year HEO students were sent to Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG. The Kainantu Community Practice Center was opened for the HEO students for a whole year of Curative, Administrative and Public Health activities. This is where students were fully exposed to all clinical, administrative, Public health activities and health center practicals.

Whilst in Kainantu, the students spent six months in clinical studies and administration/management of rural health facilities. The other six months were utilized in learning community health/public health including field medical patrols into remote rural areas and working in the health center. Okapa District Health Center was the training venue for all HEOs with the emphasis of managing the Health Center experience There was a training officer placed there to train and also helped working at the Health Center. Okapa is where the HEO students have been exposed to rural health services.

The one year spent in Kainantu, molded and provided extensive experience made the HEO a competent HEO with real hands on practice in managing a rural health facility. Kainantu gave the taste of being a real HEO and appreciating their profession.

After the affiliation of College of Allied Health Science, with Divine Word University in 2002, Kainantu Community Practice Program was also transferred to Divine Word University, Madang in 2007.

In Ethiopia, against a backdrop of acute physician shortage, Health Extension Workers are assigned to local health posts and provide a package of essential interventions to meet population health needs at this level. Through the national Health Extension Program, HEWs are recruited among high school graduates in local communities, and undergo a one-year training program to deliver a package of preventive and basic curative services that fall under four main components: hygiene and environmental sanitation; family health services; disease prevention and control; and health education and communication.[2]

• Health workforce
• Clinical officers
• Clinical associates
• Community health workers
• Physician assistants