Phiri and Tabitha volunteer with RAPIDS to protect people living with HIV/AIDS from malaria

“I try to teach the community how malaria comes, how you can prevent malaria,” said Phiri, squinting a little in the hot afternoon sun. “I like the work very much—and I try my best.”

Phiri works as a home-based caregiver in Zambia for RAPIDS, a five-year PEPFAR-funded program led by World Vision that focuses on HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support in Zambia. RAPIDS caregivers provide unique services, visiting individual clients in their homes and providing important health education and information. “We counsel them, we are giving them Panadol, we refer people to local clinics for confirmation of diagnosis,” said Tabitha, another RAPIDS worker. And caregivers are now also providing clients with mosquito nets to prevent those with weakened immune systems from contracting malaria.

Tabitha and Phiri have both suffered from malaria and understand the importance of protecting people living with HIV/AIDS from mosquitoes carrying the disease. Both proudly wear the bright orange cloth that shows that they are RAPIDS volunteers. And the best part about Phiri’s and Tabitha’s stories is that they are not unique. Community and home-based health workers are increasingly at the front lines of disease prevention and treatment in Africa, providing a critical link between clients and clinics. In Zambia, RAPIDS alone supports 18,500 home-based caregivers. “I try to prevent illness in the community,” said Phiri about his work. “And the community trusts me.”

Photo: PATH/Laura Newman.