Community Health Volunteer's Training Manual - Population Council

Module 1 The CHPS Concept
16
Exercise 1.1.4 Case study
Objective
1. To discuss the qualities of and criteria for
selecting volunteers.
Time: 10 minutes
Questions
1. What were some of the causes of the
low patronage?
2. How can a situation of this nature be
prevented?
3. What qualities should we look out for in a
person to be selected as a volunteer?
4. What criteria do you use to select
volunteers in your community?
Case study 1.1.1
Instructions to the Facilitator
1. Read Case study 1.1.1 or
choose someone from the
audience to read it out loud
2. After the story ask the
questions in the case study
3. Summarise the session by
drawing participants’ attention
to the ‘possible answers’ in
Box 3
A CHO realised that the patronage at her clinic is low and many people referred by the
volunteer never report for services.
In church one Sunday, a church elder tells her that the volunteer was arrested by the
police the previous Christmas for stealing a chicken. This greatly dented his reputation
and credibility so he is no longer able to do his normal home visits.
Questions
1. What were some of the causes of the low patronage?
2. How can a situation of this nature be prevented?
3. What qualities should we look out for in a person to be selected as a volunteer?
4. What criteria do you use to select volunteers in your community?
From the Case Study 1.1.1, we see that just as there are specific characteristics or qualities
we expect in nurses and doctors, there are qualities expected of volunteers. Some of the
qualities discussed are listed below in Box 1.1.3
Box 1.1.3: Qualities of volunteers and criteria for selection
1. Community residence/ Willingness to stay in the community for long
2. Willingness to commit time
3. Community development oriented
4. Ability to communicate effectively
5. Effective social mobiliser
6. Previous experience in voluntary work