Reflections from Maureen Emereonye (Right), Community Health and Wellbeing worker, Paddington Development Trust
Having recently come back from Brazil, I wanted to share my experience visiting the Brazilian Community Health and Wellbeing Workers in Duque de Caxias and Camaragibe. To say it was inspiring doesn’t do it justice and trying to write this without crying, probably isn’t possible:
The trip to Brazil
Duque de Caxias
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with smiles, laughter, and trays of local food and fruit. I couldn’t tell who was more excited, the UK CHWW team or our Brazilian colleagues. Their presence was so warm and joyful that it instantly felt like family.
We divided into three groups to shadow the CHWWs. I had the privilege of visiting Renata’s Territory. She brought us to meet a family she cares for: a mother, father, daughter, and grandchildren. The father has serious medical conditions that prevent him from working, and the mother lives with diabetes and hypertension.
Renata has been a lifeline for this family, supporting them with their health and daily struggles. When we asked how important she was to them, their response moved us all to tears: “She is everything. Without her, our health would not be where it is today.” They see her not just as their CHWW, but as a friend. Even though she spoke in Portuguese, the love and gratitude in the room was so strong it needed no translation.
On our way back to the medical center, Renata shared one of her proudest moments. She told us about a child in her community who was struggling to breathe. The family thought it was just a common cold, but when they showed her the child over a video call, she noticed signs of serious distress and insisted they go straight to the hospital. It turned out to be bronchitis and doctors said that without her intervention, the child would not have survived. That story reminded me of the true power of community health work: saving lives in the most human and direct way.
Camaragibe
Later, in Camaragibe, we were received like royalty. Nearly everyone who had once worked with Dr Matthew Harris, 20 years ago when he worked in Brazil, came to welcome him back, even the mayor. The love and excitement were overwhelming, and yes, there were many tears, but all of them joyful. Matt had kept a promise he made over 20 years ago: to return and bring CHWWs with him. Witnessing that reunion was magical.
For me, meeting the Brazilian CHWWs I had heard about for years was unforgettable. They were even more incredible in person full of warmth, humility, and deep dedication. We exchanged stories, shared challenges, and were amazed at how similar our roles are despite being worlds apart.
What I will carry home with me is the immense love and compassion the Brazilian CHWWs have for their communities. They go far beyond their job descriptions, becoming true pillars of the healthcare system.
Why I became a Community Health and Wellbeing Worker
On a personal note, before this trip, I had begun to question my role as a CHWW coordinator. I was focusing too much on job security and losing sight of why I became a community health worker in the first place. But the Brazilian CHWWs reminded me.
They reminded me that my purpose is compassion. It’s about listening, advocating, standing up for those without a voice, and treating every person as an individual. This isn’t just a job it’s a calling, a passion, and a responsibility.
One moment that stayed with me was when Socorro, a CHWW of 28 years, asked me why I became a community health and wellbeing worker. My answer was simple: My love for genuine human connection, along with my drive for equality and meaningful change, fuels everything I do. If we don’t step up to create that change, then who will? These are our communities, and it is our responsibility to ensure they thrive not only for ourselves, but for the generations that will follow.
Brazil has shown me what’s possible when healthcare is rooted in humanity. Their model works, and it must inspire us to fight harder for CHWWs to be embedded into healthcare systems worldwide. On the days when I feel tired, defeated, or discouraged, I will remember Renata, Socorro, Nara and all the extraordinary CHWWs I met in Brazil.
They reignited a light in me that had begun to dim, and for that, I will be forever grateful.
