Community Health Volunteer's Training Manual - Population Council

Teamwork
whole family provides its support. They witness the marriage ceremonies, give money and
encourage the couple in their marriage.
That is what a team is like. There are different people with different skills and abilities. Each
person has his or her own job to do. He alone can do certain things which no one else can
do.
In health, we have many people and teams we work with. Together, we are all called
stakeholders. These stakeholders team come from within and outside the communities and
include CHVs, VHCs, CHOs, DHMTs, and the District Assembly.
Topic 1 Understanding the team concept
Teams in community health delivery
We have different stakeholders who have an interest in the health of the community. Each
of these groups forms a team. In order to be able to work in these teams, volunteers need to
understand what the team concept is. So what are these teams? At the community level the
main stakeholders are the CHOs, CHVs, VHCs, NGOs. Each of these groups can form a
team to work towards a common purpose.
Working with Stakeholders
In a team you will work with different people. Each one has his or her own way of life and
character. It is called their personality. Some people laugh and joke easily. Others are quiet
and like to be alone. Another person may be very strict. S/he is there to work, that’s all.
Some other people are everybody’s friend, but do not like to work. Whatever personality you
find in your group, you must respect them and learn to get along with them.
Topic 2 Team dynamics
Team development
All teams must be developed as a group as well as the individuals in it. Your village
committee is a team that has been formed to help with the health care work in your
community. Its members have to be trained and helped to work together and work with
other people at all times.
How do you learn to work together? How do we build teams? Listen to what someone said.
“Real teams do not just happen. They need to develop both as a group and through their
leaders”.
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