Specialized and Professional Training Content for Village Health Workers: Functions and Responsibilities of Village Health Workers

Main Content

Content of Professional and Operational Training for Village Medical Staff:

Based on Appendix 03 issued together with Circular 27/2023/TT-BYT stipulating the content of professional and operational training for village medical staff, the content includes:

| No. | Name of Professional, Operational Content || --- | --- || 1 | General Human Anatomy - Physiology || 2 | Essential Medicines and How to Use Medicines || 3 | Organization, Operation of Primary Health Care and Health Care at the Community || 4 | Health Communication - Education || 5 | Prevention and Control of the Impact of Climate Change and Environmental Pollution || 6 | Recognizing Some Systemic Signs, Danger Signs || 7 | First Aid, Initial Management || 8 | Initial Management of Some Common Symptoms and Diseases || 9 | Supporting Patient Transport, Referral to Safe Medical Facilities || 10 | Handling Emergency Births at the Community || 11 | Health Care for Pregnant Women; Postpartum Care for Mothers and Newborns in the First 6 Weeks at Home || 12 | Child Health Care || 13 | Nutrition for Children and Infant Feeding || 14 | Expanded Immunization || 15 | Management and Health Care for the Community and Disease Prevention (Applying Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nutrition in Care. Detect and initially manage diseases with epidemic nature in the locality) || 16 | Management, Screening, Counseling, and Health Care for Patients with Non-communicable Diseases || 17 | Application of Information Technology, Medical Statistics, and Reporting || 18 | Guidance on Using Tools for Monitoring, Maternal, and Child Health Care, in both Paper and Electronic Versions || 19 | Clinical Practice at Disease Examination and Treatment Facilities || 20 | Community Practice |

Content of professional and operational training for village medical staff. What functions do village medical staff have? (Image from the internet)

What Functions Do Village Medical Staff Have?

Based on the provisions of Article 3 Circular 27/2023/TT-BYT, the functions for village medical staff; village midwives are specified as follows:

Functions for Village Medical Staff; Village Midwives:

1. For Village Medical Staff: assist the commune health station in performing the function of primary health care at the village level.

2. For Village Midwives: assist the commune health station in performing the function of maternal and child health care at the village level.

Thus, based on the above regulations, village medical staff have the function of assisting the commune health station in performing the primary health care function at the village level.

Duties of Village Medical Staff:

Based on the provisions of Clause 1, Article 4 Circular 27/2023/TT-BYT, the duties of village medical staff are specified as follows:

(1) Participate in primary health care and medical activities at the village level, including:

- Propagate, disseminate knowledge, educate, guide, and advise residents in the village on: health care; prevention and control of health risk factors; environmental sanitation; food safety; prevention and control of malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, community epidemics; prevention and control of the impact of climate change and environmental pollution;

- Detect, monitor, and report on the situation of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, foodborne diseases, emerging epidemics at the village level;

- Coordinate in implementing health programs and projects at the village level;

- Guide residents on planting and using traditional medicine at home to prevent and treat some common symptoms and diseases;

- Participate in implementing sanitation movements for disease prevention, food safety, and community health improvement;

- Participate in guiding the establishment of health records for the entire population and managing the health of residents in the area;

- Participate in professional and operational training courses to update knowledge and enhance skills;

- Participate in regular briefings with the commune health station;

- Promptly and fully report according to the guidance of the commune health station.

(2) Participate in maternal and child health care, including:

- Propagate and mobilize hygiene practices for women, prenatal care, proper nutrition, and elimination of harmful practices affecting maternal and child health; mobilize pregnant women to register for antenatal care, receive tetanus vaccination, deliver at medical facilities, and ensure children receive all vaccines according to their age and are breastfed;

- Report the list and number of children in the village; prepare a list of pregnant women and children who need vaccination according to regulations and monitor for post-vaccination complications;

- Guide residents on the use of tools for monitoring and caring for maternal and child health in both paper and electronic versions;

(3) Participate in medical examination and treatment at the village level as detailed in Clause 2, Article 3 Circular 27/2023/TT-BYT.