Community health worker (CHW) Nassa Moussa, known locally as a Community-Based Health Agent in Burkina Faso, is from the village of Tanbogo in the Ziniaré region, about 40 kilometers outside of the capital Ouagadougou. He has been a CHW for the last seven years.

“I became a CHW to improve the health of my fellow community members. I want to help save lives and bring smiles back to many families here,” says Moussa. He is proud of his contribution and the impact he has had in his community, with the support of Living Goods. Moussa and other CHWs in the Ziniaré learning site were trained in Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) in January, equipping them with the skills needed to provide essential care for pregnant women and managing childhood diseases like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.

Moussa enthusiastically reflects on the positive reception from the community. “The population is really happy about our services because some live far from the health facilities. Thanks to us, they can receive care at any time, even at night,” he says. CHWs serve as a bridge, enhancing access to health services, especially in remote communities, where they are often the first point of contact for people’s health needs.

Having previously grappled with paper-based tools, Moussa praises the transformative role that digital technology has played in improving service delivery. “The phone is very useful. It makes our work easier,” he explains.

CHWs in Ziniaré received mobile smartphones from Living Goods, equipped with the MoH’s mHealth application. “The phone now serves as my compass. It sends me task reminders. I can’t forget any of my responsibilities,” Moussa emphasizes.

Relatedly, Moussa underscores the importance of supervision in his daily work. “Without proper supervision, we would struggle to manage our tasks effectively. When issues arise in the field, we rely on our supervisors to help us resolve them.”