Training of rural community development workers in health education : with special reference to water supply protection and use/maintenance of sanitation facilities

This report outlines an improved program, developed with special reference to water supply and sanitation projects and stressing an active problemsolving program to the training process and the provision of post-training support in the field. The report first discusses the competencies needed by health workers. Workers must be able to identify and maintain good relationships with community leaders and groups and to promote group discussion and action, leading to designation of a village water committee responsible for the water program and for related health education. Also required are knowledge of water-related, sanitation-related, and vector-borne diseases and of the basics of personal hygiene; the ability to maintain continuous support for the water committee and to act as a linkage point for village and external resources; and knowledge of evaluation procedures and the ability to train the village committee to use the procedures. The remainder of the report provides, in light of the above, recommendations for the training program and trainee selection, key back-up systems, and evaluation procedures.