Acronyms and Terminology
We hope that this list of acronyms helps you navigate course content! If there are any other acronyms or terms that you would like defined or clarified, please ask us on the Acronym and Terminology discussion board!
ANC: Antenatal Care
BPHS: Basic Package of Health Services
BRAC: Building Resources Across Countries (formerly: Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee)
CBIS: Community-Based Information System
CEBS: Community Event-Based Surveillance
CHA: Community Health Assistant - alternate term used for a community health worker
CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
CHCs: Community Health Committees
CHCP: Community Healthcare Provider
CHSS: Community Health Service Supervisor(s)
CHFP: Community Health Focal Person
CHW: Community Health Worker
CHV: Community Health Volunteer – term used for non-salaried community health worker
DGFP: Directorate General of Family Planning
DHIS: District Health Information System - software program for reporting and analyzing health data
DOT: Directly Observed Treatment - strategy by which health workers observe patients taking their medication
EHSP: Essential Health Service Package
EPHS: Essential Package of Health Services
EPI: Expanded Program on Immunization - vaccination schedule and program endorsed by the World Health Organization
FWAs: Family Welfare Assistants
gCHVs: general Community Health Volunteers - term used for non-salaried community health worker
GDP: Gross Domestic Product
GFF: Global Finance Facility of the World Bank Group
GNI: Gross National Income
GNP: Gross National Product
HA: Health Assistants
HDAV: Health Development Army Volunteers
HDSS: Health and Demographic Surveillance System
HEP: Health Extension Program
HEW: Health Extension Worker
HFDC: Health Facility Development Committee
HIS: Health Information System
HMIS: health management information system - term for the set of programs used to collect and manage data within a health system
HRIS: Human Resources Information System
HSDP: Health Sector Development Plan
HSTP: Health Sector Transformation Plan
iCCM: integrated community case management (of childhood illness)
ICH: Institutionalizing Community Health Conference in 2017
IDSR: Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response
IHI: Institute for Healthcare Improvement
LMIS: Logistics Management Information System
MOH: Ministry of Health
MOHFW: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
MOLGRDC: Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding
MDG: Millennium Development Goal - one of eight global targets for 2015, established in 2000 through the UN system and adopted by countries and development institutions
NCHA: National Community Health Assistant
NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
ORS: Oral Rehydration Solution - fluid replacement used to treat dehydration
PASDEP: Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty
PHCU: Primary Health Care Unit
PIH: Partners In Health
RED: Research and Evaluation Division
ROI: Return on Investment
SDG: Sustainable Development Goal - one of eight global targets introduced in 2016, upon the end of the MDG timeline
TBA: Traditional Birth Attendants
TTBAs: Trained Traditional Birth Attendants
UHC: Universal Health Care
UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
USAID: United States Agency for International Development
WDA: Women Development Army
WHO: World Health Organization