Accompagnateurs Curriculum

Publication date: 01/01/08
by Partners In Health

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Accompagnateurs—community health workers trained and employed to provide medical and psychosocial support for their neighbors—have played a crucial role in our community-based health care programs since Partners In Health (PIH) started working in Haiti more than 20 years ago. Recognizing accompagnateurs as the bridge between health clinics and the community, this training curriculum has two overarching goals—to help accompagnateurs develop competence in active casefinding for diseases and social needs, and to instill a sense of solidarity and social justice in supporting patients, households and the community.

This pilot curriculum for accompagnateurs comprises 15 units, with a focus on treatment and support for patients with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The training is tailored to be given over seven consecutive or separate days, after participants have received their initial orientation by PIH clinical staff. The curriculum includes parallel materials for use by trainers and participants, as well as visual aids for use with each unit. The Accompagnateur Training Guide for facilitators provides detailed steps on how to train accompagnateurs in the skills and knowledge needed to carry out their work. The Accompagnateurs Handbook is designed to be used by accompagnateurs both as a manual during the training and as a reference when they are working with patients in the community. Visual aids are also provided in two alternative forms – flipcharts and slides.

The curriculum covers the following topics:

• Treatment, prevention, side effects, and risk factors for HIV, TB, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other infectious diseases
• The roles and responsibilities of accompagnateurs
• Challenges faced by accompagnateurs and ways of dealing with them
• The impact of HIV/AIDS on women
• Recognizing and reducing stigma and discrimination
• Effective communication and psychosocial support