Region and Country: Iran

Topics: Chronic conditions, CHW role, Community health workers, Country ownership, Environment, Infectious diseases, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Program design, Training, Water and Sanitation

This article reviews Iran’s “Health Houses,” which were conceived and introduced during the country’s 1980-1988 war with Iraq. The health houses are run by trained CHWs, called behvarzan, who provide basic health care to most of the country's rural population. Female behvarz are typically responsible for child and maternal health, vaccinations, registration and administering medicines, while male behvarz deal mainly with sanitation and environmental projects. An estimated 90% of Iran's rural population receives health care at its 17,000 health houses from 30,000 CHWs. The article describes the behvarzans’ qualifications, training and duties.