Empowering CHWs in Myanmar - Bridging Health Gaps Presentation

Empowering Community Health Workers in Myanmar: Bridging Health Gaps

This presentation was given by Saw Morgan Soe Win, World Vision Myanmar, at the 4th International Community Health Workers Symposium in November 2025. 

In Myanmar, almost one-third of preschool children are stunted, 800,000 suffer from wasting, and 2.2 million women and children urgently need nutrition support. To address these challenges, World Vision Myanmar’s Health Programme engages 879 Community Health Workers (CHWs) to deliver essential health care services and strengthen community health systems in 20 areas, particularly in communities in need.

The work aims to strengthen the community health system to improve access to maternal, child health, and nutrition services by facilitating programme implementation and ensuring effective linkage to service delivery points.

In 2024, CHWs reached 54,067 mothers and caregivers through targeted health education sessions, empowering families with essential knowledge on child and maternal health. They also facilitated referrals for 1,311 children and 1,045 pregnant women to ensure timely access to specialised care. Collaboration with 638 Health Committees further strengthened community engagement, fostered local ownership, and enhanced responsiveness to health needs at the community level

Strengthening CHWs through structured supervision and coaching can effectively expand primary health care coverage and address service gaps in fragile contexts. This approach provides practical, scalable strategies for advancing equitable health outcomes and building resilient community health systems in Myanmar.