The CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP), operating over a 20-year period across five countries, provides valuable insights into the role of community mobilization in public health initiatives. Originally designed to eradicate polio, the program’s social mobilization efforts also impacted broader maternal and child health through the involvement of community health workers (CHWs). While vertical health programs like polio eradication often have limited broader health effects, the CGPP successfully integrated its community mobilizers (CMs) into general health work. Using the CHW Assessment and Improvement Matrix (AIM) tool, the analysis found that CGPP CMs met the basic functioning level (level 3) in six out of ten AIM components. Key factors for the program’s success included effective data use, community engagement, local adaptation, and strong linkages with the health system. These lessons are applicable to other disease control programs, such as those addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive community mobilization and integration with the broader health system for lasting impact.
The critical role and evaluation of community mobilizers in polio eradication in remote settings in Africa and Asia
Health
