At the Tampintin CHPS Compound in Bongo District, health care is becoming a shared responsibility. Through the Community Health Management Committee (CHMC), community members work with health workers to solve problems, share health messages and encourage families to use the services available at the facility.
For Babbila Abdullah, Secretary of the CHMC, this partnership helps keep the community connected to the health facility.
“As community members, we serve on the health committee for the CHPS compound to act as a bridge between healthcare workers and members of the community,” he says.
Solving problems together
The committee meets every quarter with health workers to discuss issues affecting the CHPS compound. Together, they identify challenges, listen to community concerns and agree on practical actions to improve services.
The CHMC also helps settle misunderstandings between patients and health workers. By listening to both sides, the committee helps build trust and keeps the relationship between the community and the health facility strong.
The CHMC also mobilises support from community members to improve the CHPS compound. These contributions help maintain the facility and make it more welcoming for families seeking care.
Recently, the committee raised funds to buy paint and label the facility as the Tampintin CHPS Compound. They also bought ceiling fans to make the space more comfortable for clients and health workers.
UNICEF, with support from KOICA, has also provided equipment to the CHPS compound to help health workers deliver better care to families.
“When the community and health workers work together, families feel more confident to come to the CHPS compound for care. Our role is to support the facility and help our people stay healthy,” says a CHMC member.
Beyond the facility, the CHMC supports health workers and community health volunteers to reach more families with important health information.
In the past quarter, the committee helped share messages on disease prevention, including Cerebrospinal Meningitis and cholera. These messages help families know how to protect themselves and when to seek care.
The committee also visits homes to encourage people, especially pregnant women and those who are unwell, to go to the CHPS compound and register for health services.
Community Action for Better Health
The story of Tampintin shows how community action can strengthen primary health care. By meeting regularly, solving problems, supporting volunteers and mobilising local resources, the CHMC is helping families access care closer to home.
When communities and health workers work together, health services become more trusted, more useful and easier to access. In Tampintin, better health is being built through teamwork, trust and shared responsibility.
