After the earthquake, FCHVs were able to provide assistance for many of the new problems in the community, mostly without formal instruction from their supervisors. The major issues that arose pertained to shelter, water, food, latrines, and illness, including mental health and pediatric concerns.
After the 2015 earthquake, FCHVs continued their regular duties and started assessing for malnourishment by measuring the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of children ages six months to five years.
Without instruction, FCHVs provided basic first aid, assisted with transport of the severely wounded, participated in search and rescue of people who were trapped, suggested proper management of human and animal corpses, helped distribute and ration available food, aided construction of temporary shelters, and salvaged useful materials from partially-collapsed houses. Perhaps most importantly, they took it upon themselves to share messages of psychological support, telling mothers and children to remain calm and reassuring them that they were safe
