A Day in the Life of a Community Health Worker in Maputo Province
At just 30 years old, Arlete is the only community health worker serving more than 2,000 people across over 1,000 households.
Maputo, Mozambique - Arlete Chavango is a Community Health Worker, known locally as an Agente Polivalente de Saúde, based in Chipapa in rural Maputo province. She plays a vital role in connecting families to the health system. Although a health facility exists nearby, many households rely on her as their first point of contact for the early detection, treatment and referral of common childhood illnesses.
I joined Arlete on her daily rounds. At just 30 years old, she is the only community health worker serving more than 2,000 people across over 1,000 households.
As part of Mozambique’s National Community Health Workers Programme, Arlete receives training and support from the Ministry of Health, Malaria Consortium and UNICEF. Together, these partners work to ensure children at risk of malaria and other preventable diseases receive timely, life-saving care.
Despite the scale of her responsibility, her commitment never falters. “Sometimes I walk up to 20 kilometres just to make sure someone gets their medicine,” she says. She treats common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia, and refers more complex cases, including severe malnutrition and pregnancy-related complications, to the nearest health facility.
Her work is not without challenges. Her bicycle, once essential for reaching distant households, is no longer functional. This means longer distances on foot, often under the sun. Still, she continues her visits and responds to emergencies, even when called at night.
Her days follow a demanding rhythm. She wakes at 5am to prepare her family. A mother of three, she leaves for community visits around 10am, returns home by early afternoon to cook and care for her children, and heads out again by 4pm to attend school. She studies until 9pm. It is a full life sustained by determination and resilience.
Digital tools for smarter health
Supporting her work is upSCALE, a digital health platform developed by Malaria Consortium in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF. Built on the earlier inSCALE trial, upSCALE is now a key part of Mozambique’s national strategy for community-based health care.
Through the app on her smartphone, Arlete registers patients, supports diagnosis, treatment and referral, and uploads data directly into the national health information system. This allows supervisors to monitor disease trends and stock levels in near real time.
During my visit, we stopped at two households. The first was already registered on upSCALE. Using the app, Arlete carried out a follow-up visit, reviewing sanitation conditions, malaria prevention practices and children’s vaccination status. She identified gaps and provided practical advice to help prevent diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and malaria. Each visit generates a score, helping guide future support.
The second household had recently arrived in the community. Together with a district health officer, Arlete explained the benefits of registration and enrolled the family. She assessed a baby showing concerning symptoms and immediately referred the case to the nearest health facility. It was a clear example of how digital tools can strengthen timely, community-level care. Digital health, here, is not only about technology. It is about trust and presence.
A call for continued support
Although she uses weekends to rest when she can, Arlete’s work rarely stops. She is a caregiver, educator, first responder and data collector. Her experience reflects both the strength of Mozambique’s community health worker programme and the pressures it faces.
With sustained investment, community health workers like Arlete could be scaled up across the country. Tools such as upSCALE show how digital innovation can improve care for children and families in even the most remote settings.
As Arlete herself says, “I do this because people trust me. I’m part of this community. It is an honour to be able to help my community.”
The strategic partnership between the Global Fund and UNICEF has led to tangible progress in reinforcing the community health workforce, improving health outcomes, and accelerating efforts toward Universal Health Coverage. UNICEF highly values the trust placed by the Global Fund in its collaboration with the Ministry of Health and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring transparency, efficiency, and sustainable impact in the use of the resources provided.
