RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prioritising the role of community health workers in the COVID-19 response JF BMJ Global Health JO BMJ Global Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP e002550 DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002550 VO 5 IS 6 A1 Ballard, Madeleine A1 Bancroft, Emily A1 Nesbit, Josh A1 Johnson, Ari A1 Holeman, Isaac A1 Foth, Jennifer A1 Rogers, Debbie A1 Yang, Jane A1 Nardella, James A1 Olsen, Helen A1 Raghavan, Mallika A1 Panjabi, Raj A1 Alban, Rebecca A1 Malaba, Serah A1 Christiansen, Molly A1 Rapp, Stephanie A1 Schechter, Jennifer A1 Aylward, Patrick A1 Rogers, Ash A1 Sebisaho, Jacques A1 Ako, Clarise A1 Choudhury, Nandini A1 Westgate, Carey A1 Mbeya, Julius A1 Schwarz, Ryan A1 Bonds, Matthew H A1 Adamjee, Rehan A1 Bishop, Julia A1 Yembrick, Amanda A1 Flood, David A1 McLaughlin, Meg A1 Palazuelos, Daniel YR 2020 UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/5/6/e002550.abstract AB COVID-19 disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable. Community health workers are poised to play a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic, especially in countries with less resilient health systems. Drawing from practitioner expertise across four WHO regions, this article outlines the targeted actions needed at different stages of the pandemic to achieve the following goals: (1) PROTECT healthcare workers, (2) INTERRUPT the virus, (3) MAINTAIN existing healthcare services while surging their capacity, and (4) SHIELD the most vulnerable from socioeconomic shocks. While decisive action must be taken now to blunt the impact of the pandemic in countries likely to be hit the hardest, many of the investments in the supply chain, compensation, dedicated supervision, continuous training and performance management necessary for rapid community response in a pandemic are the same as those required to achieve universal healthcare and prevent the next epidemic.