On December 4, 2023, Living Goods hosted an informative panel discussion at the Global Digital Health Forum titled “Beyond Boundaries: Scaling Digitized Community Health Systems for the Future.”

The session brought together trailblazers in global health—including government leaders, funders, and implementing partners—to explore how digital tools and strategic partnerships empower community health workers (CHWs) to ensure that underserved communities are included in the continuum of care.

The focus also highlighted how these efforts reshape healthcare systems to be more scalable, sustainable, and effective in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Here’s a recap of the key insights from the discussion.

The session began with Kanishka Katara, Chief Digital Health Officer at Living Goods, who contextualized the challenges facing health systems, particularly in regions of Africa and Asia. He emphasized the complexities introduced by climate change and underscored the role of technology in overcoming these hurdles.

Kanishka noted that while digital tools are helping CHWs adapt to the challenges in delivering quality healthcare, continued collaboration among stakeholders is vital for driving long-term sustainable impact.

Debra Marie Olumbo, a Community Health Promoter from Kisumu, Kenya, supported by Living Goods, shared her personal journey of embracing digital tools in her work.

She described the significant transformation brought about by smartphones: “Ten years ago, I relied on paper to manage patient data, which was cumbersome and inefficient. Now, with tools like MOH 100 on my smartphone, I can track children under one year of age and monitor conditions like diarrhea more effectively.”

She explained how digital tools have streamlined her responsibilities, making her work more manageable and allowing her to provide timely updates to her supervisors. While she initially felt intimidated by technology, Debra credited comprehensive training for her newfound confidence in using these tools.

Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Chief Digital Health Advisor at Africa CDC, underscored the need for partnerships to scale digital health initiatives. He noted that achieving universal healthcare in Africa requires equipping 2 million CHWs with the necessary tools and infrastructure.

“No single entity can do this alone,” Jean emphasized, advocating for collaborative efforts among governments, innovators, and communities. He also highlighted the potential cost savings of digital health systems, citing studies that suggest digitization could reduce primary healthcare expenses by up to 35%.

Suhel Bidani, Lead for Digital and AI at the Gates Foundation, addressed the challenges of information flow within health systems. He stressed that effective data sharing from communities to healthcare facilities is essential for improving outcomes and saving lives.

Suhel pointed out that while the impact of digital solutions is evident, continued targeted research is crucial for gathering more evidence around the efficacy of these tools and ensuring their future relevance.

Living Goods’ incoming CEO, Emilie Chambert, concluded the session by outlining the organization’s plans for expanding digital health solutions:

Localized Approaches: Emilie highlighted how Living Goods has adapted its tools in Burkina Faso by providing digital literacy training to CHWs and developing accessible capacity development and healthcare tools.

Partnership Alignment: She emphasized the importance of aligning tools with government digital health strategies, such as Kenya’s universal healthcare strategy.

Joint Investments: Emilie advocated for collaborative funding models to ensure cost-effective and sustainable implementation. “We’re not just creating tools; we’re ensuring they are impactful and affordable for the communities we serve,” Emilie remarked.

The panel reaffirmed that digitization and partnerships are pivotal in addressing the pressing challenges of global healthcare. By equipping CHWs with digital tools and fostering collaboration across sectors, we can build resilient health systems capable of delivering consistent, high-quality care, even amid environmental and economic disruptions.

Living Goods remains committed to driving this change—saving lives, empowering communities, and integrating them into primary healthcare to ensure continuity of care and universal health coverage by collaborating with stakeholders (governments, funders, technical experts, and implementing partners) to shape the future of community health.