A Series of MMI hosted debates
Online | 13 to 17 April 2026

With the 50th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration approaching, still more than 4 billion people lack access to basic health services and the health system architecture – both in developed and developing countries – is falling apart.

In a constrained, overburdened and often hard to access health system, community health becomes indispensable to guarantee health services to everyone.

Within MMI, we believe that:

🎯 Community Health Workers (CHWs) are the foundation of a comprehensive Primary Health Care (PHC) interpretation
Without community health workers, comprehensive PHC cannot truly reach the people it is meant to serve.
Community Health Workers are the first point of contact between the health system and the community, making PHC accessible, acceptable, and effective. In particular, they translate health policies into real community action; ensure continuity of care beyond the medical ward; help shifting healthcare from hospital centered to community centered.
🎯 CHWs reduce health inequities by reaching marginalized, rural and underserved communities.
🎯 CHWs are cultural mediators: they deliver messages adapting and tailoring them to the cultural values and beliefs of the community.
Overcoming language, cultural and trust barriers, they help tackle social determinants of health and act as a bridge between the biomedical system and the local community.
🎯 CHWs are advocates for the community, representing its needs within the formal health system.
🎯 CHWs are involved in prevention, preparedness and health education activities. 

Join us for a week-long deep dive into the work of Community Health Workers in selected countries and learn more about their role, function and struggles for recognition.

Programme

📆 Monday 13 April
🕑 9.00 -10.30 CEST: Past, Present, and Future of Community Health Workers in Papua New Guinea – Where is the balance between quality, numbers and impact?
🔗 More info and registration: click HERE
Session organized by Redemptoris Missio

📆 Tuesday 14 April
🕑 12.00 -13.30 CEST: Community health, solidarity forums and securing legal employment recognition in South Africa
🔗 More info and registration: click HERE
Session organized by Medico International 

🕑 14.30 -16.00 CEST: Empowering Community Health Workers to prescribe, titrate and dispense treatment for hypertension and type-2-diabetes: lessons from the ComBaCaL project in Lesotho
🔗 More info and registration: click HERE.
Session organized by SolidarMed and University of Basel

📆 Wednesday 15 April
🕑 13.00 -12.30 CEST: Beyond the Frontline: Community Health Workers Strengthening Health Systems
🔗 More info and registration: click HERE.
Session organized by CWGH

📆 Thursday 16 April
🕑 14.00 -15.30 CEST: Community Health Workers speak: voices from Kenya, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso
🔗 More info and registration: click HERE
Session organized by Medicus Mundi Italy and Università di Verona

📆 Friday 17 April
🕑 12.00 -13.30 CEST: Community Health Workers in the Philippines: Community Action for Health and Social Justice.
🔗 More info and registration: click HERE.
Session organized by Viva Salud and Council for Health and Development