The implementation of Acompañantes (community health workers) to achieve NCD's control in rural Chiapas

In Mexico, prevalence of NCD’s has been increasing. In 2016 the national prevalence was 9,4% for diabetes and 25,5% for hypertension (Table 1), with a clinical control of 25% and 50% each. Compañeros en Salud (CES) works in ten clinics in rural Chiapas, the poorest state of Mexico, in which the prevalence of NCD´s (diabetes and hypertension) is 12%. In 2013 CES started the implementation of acompañantes (Community Health Workers) to help achieve patient´s clinical control. 

CES seeks to strengthen the preexisting health system in Mexico and our model is based on the joint work of acompañantes, healthcare professionals and program coordinators.