Living Goods recently joined health sector leaders and innovators at the inaugural Lake Region Digital Health Conference (LRDHC 2024) in Kisumu County, Kenya. Hosted by the County Government of Kisumu, the event brought together key stakeholders to discuss digital health’s role in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya and beyond.

With a focus on technology and digital solutions, the conference highlighted groundbreaking efforts to integrate digital tools within community health systems. Living Goods is proud to be a sponsor of the event.

Building Kenya’s UHC Foundation Through Digital Integration

Kisumu County has been at the forefront of Kenya’s UHC journey, and Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o underscored the pivotal role that digital health innovation plays. Since 2018, Kisumu has been implementing a digital household registration program to identify and support vulnerable populations. In collaboration with Living Goods, Kisumu became the first county to fully implement the Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), a comprehensive tool for enhancing health service delivery. The eCHIS system enables data-driven decision-making, ensuring targeted interventions that serve individual, household, and community health needs more effectively.

Prof. Nyong’o launched the county’s digital health roadmap at the event, championing integrated systems that streamline health data sharing across platforms. This ambitious roadmap is a model for other counties, demonstrating how digital integration can advance healthcare access and outcomes.

Innovative Approaches to Digital Health Financing

Living Goods’ Chief Programs Officer, Dr. Joan Oracha, contributed to the “Integrating Digital Solutions into Kenya’s UHC Agenda” panel, sharing insights into innovative health financing models. Emphasizing the importance of government buy-in and political will, Dr. Oracha highlighted how Living Goods’ co-financing approach offers a sustainable way for counties to improve healthcare delivery. Her remarks resonated with the audience, particularly as she underscored the need for supportive policies to ensure the longevity of digital health solutions within community health systems.

Empowering Women in Digital Health

The “Women in Digital Health” session was a key highlight, featuring discussions on gender equity in healthcare. Living Goods’ Chief Digital Health Officer, Kanishka Katara, shared Living Goods’ commitment to empowering women, who comprise 80% of its Community Health Promoters (CHPs). Katara emphasized initiatives to boost digital literacy, build capacity, and support economic well-being among female CHWs. By enhancing digital skills, Living Goods aims to close gender gaps, promote equitable service delivery, and foster economic empowerment.

Panelists in the session, including Ruth Okuthe of CarePay and Dr. Margaret Njenga of PS Kenya, echoed these goals, advocating for gender-sensitive digital innovations that consider unique community needs. The session underscored that a gender-conscious approach is crucial in ensuring healthcare access and equity for underserved populations.

Digitizing Community Health Systems for Impact

The conference also featured an engaging panel on “Digitizing Community Health Systems for Better Health Outcomes,” where Living Goods’ Global Director of Software Engineering, Gitahi Ng’ang’a, discussed the impact of digital tools on community health services. The integration of eCHIS into CHW workflows has streamlined operations, reduced costs, and enhanced the efficiency of community health initiatives. Panelist Gabriel Masinde from Vihiga County highlighted that real-time data collection has led to improved community health standards, particularly in sanitation. The potential for a performance-based compensation model was also explored, made feasible by digital systems that track outputs in real-time.

Moderated by Hildah N., Global Digital Health & Government Partnerships at Living Goods, the session underscored the importance of user-centered, scalable systems that address gaps in underserved communities. As Kenya scales digital health, standardizing policies and ensuring infrastructure readiness are key for sustainable expansion.

Digital Learning for CHWs: A Pilot in Busia County

Living Goods wrapped up its conference participation by presenting the results of a digital learning pilot in Busia County. The Learning Management System (LMS), implemented from January to June 2023, provided continuous, self-paced training for CHPs, focusing on maternal and child health. The study reported a remarkable 98% increase in knowledge retention among CHPs, with an impressive 80% of participants actively engaging in the modules. By reducing the need for in-person training, the LMS realized substantial cost savings and improved access to critical knowledge for CHPs.

This digital learning initiative not only highlights Living Goods’ commitment to sustainable community health but also exemplifies how eCHIS can integrate eLearning for ongoing CHP development. The LMS project underscores how digital tools can enhance the capabilities of CHWs, ensuring high-quality care for communities.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining Digital Health Innovations

The Lake Region Digital Health Conference illustrated Kenya’s forward momentum in digital health and UHC. Living Goods’ contributions across multiple panels and sessions showcased our innovative approaches to community health, highlighting the potential for digital solutions to transform healthcare delivery. As we work alongside partners and governments, Living Goods remains committed to pioneering solutions that promote health equity, build resilient systems, and empower community health workers across Kenya and beyond.

As digital health transforms the landscape, Living Goods is at the forefront, ensuring that these innovations benefit communities most in need, supporting them on their journey toward sustainable and equitable healthcare.