Transforming health systems requires more than technical solutions. It requires power, and community health workers (CHWs) around the world are building that power together. This plenary explored how collective action at national, regional and global levels is reshaping what is possible for CHWs. Through alliances and organizing, CHWs and their advocates have demonstrated that when they stand together, they can demand the dignity, recognition and resources needed to deliver effective care to their communities.

CHWs have historically remained unsalaried, unsupported and under-recognized, often because they lacked the organized voice held by other health professions. This session examined efforts to correct that imbalance by spotlighting CHW Associations leading change at national level in Kenya, Peru and the United States. It also highlighted regional movements, including Africa Frontline First and the Africa CDC, which are helping governments learn from one another and adopt pro-CHW policies that strengthen community health systems.

The plenary was chaired by Dr. Dan Palazuelos, one of the founding members of CHIC, who reflected on the importance of building a global solidarity movement alongside national and regional initiatives. Together, these efforts show that when CHWs organize, advocate and lead, they shift systems. They build the power needed to secure fair pay, dependable support and long-term recognition. The session called for continued investment in CHW-led alliances, recognizing that collective action remains one of the most effective forces for systemic change in community health.

Alliance Building: Making Systems Change for CHWs A Reality

13th November, 08:00AM to 09:30AM EST 

Speakers:

• Carmen Vilela Vargas has served as a CHW for 28 years and is President of the Lima-Callao Health Promoter Network, which spans 29 districts of the Peruvian capital. Carmen has been pivotal for the recent formation of a national CHW association, as well as professional CHW policy discussions. Her advocacy reflects a deep commitment to championing the rights, recognition, and impact of over 30,000 CHWs across the country.
  
• Margaret Odera is a community health worker. Her main focus is to form a national association for CHWs in Kenya. She successfully spearheaded the establishment of the CHW CN (Community Health Workers Champions Network), a network of CHWs in Kenya who are advocating for their rights to compensation and respect within the healthcare system.
  
• Denise Smith, MBA, CHW, PN, is a prominent leader and advocate for CHWs and is best known as the founding Executive Director of the National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW). In this role, which she held since the organization’s founding in 2019 until her resignation in May 2025, she has been a driving force in national policy and advocacy for the CHW workforce. Her work underscores the significance of CHWs’ lived experiences in advancing health, equity, and social justice.
  
• Dr. Richard Kabanda is a Public Health Specialist leading Uganda’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention agenda at the Ministry of Health, Uganda.
  
  
  

This session was moderated by Dr. Daniel Palazuelos