A Critical Link to Universal Health Coverage

Good health is the foundation for thriving communities. Yet far too many families in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant barriers to care, including long distances to health facilities, high wait times, and frequent medicine shortages. These obstacles leave millions without the quality care they need, leading to a staggering 8 million preventable deaths each year. Living Goods supports community health workers (CHWs) to bridge these gaps by providing essential care to even their hardest-to-reach neighbors – when and where they need it most.

Community Health Workers: A Low-Cost, High-Impact Solution

Despite being widely recognized as essential to strong primary healthcare systems, CHWs often work without formal recognition, compensation or support. Integrated into primary health systems, CHWs can expand access to care more quickly and affordably than facility-based services alone. Research shows that well-supported CHWs can prevent over 3 million child deaths annually and deliver a 1:10 return on investment.

The Power of Community Health Workers in Action

Living Goods’ experience shows CHWs have the greatest impact on health outcomes when they are compensated, supported by game-changing technology, equipped with reliable medications and effectively trained and supervised.

As governments and partners increasingly commit to achieving universal health coverage (UHC), Living Goods advocates at global and national levels to ensure community health is recognized and leveraged for the life-saving potential it holds. By investing in CHWs, we can unlock their full potential to deliver lifesaving care at scale – ensuring families survive and thrive for generations to come.

When supported with proper training and resources, CHWs can:

Save Lives

By educating and treating people where they live, CHWs improve maternal and child health, ensuring safer pregnancies, healthier babies, and well-nourished children. A randomized controlled trial of Living Goods’ program in Uganda showed that CHWs reduced child mortality by 27%.

Lower Costs

CHWs reduce the need for expensive emergency services by focusing on prevention. They also save families time and money by offering care at home, eliminating travel costs and long wait times at health facilities.

Close the Workforce Gap

As the world faces a projected shortfall of 6.1 million healthcare workers by 2030, CHWs are a scalable, cost-effective solution. By offering digital tools, continuous training, and fair compensation, Living Goods ensures CHWs deliver quality care while advancing in their careers.

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