Against a backdrop of growing urgency to invest in resilient health systems, this year’s 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) reinforced what we at Living Goods have long championed: professional community health workers (proCHWs) are not a stopgap solution, they are the foundation of primary health care and global health security.  

Throughout the week, alongside governments, civil society, and global partners, we were proud to be part of an energizing week that underscored the need for bold political will, sustained domestic financing, and smarter digital investments to elevate community health.  

Here are three reflections that give us hope and renewed resolve.  

1. Collective advocacy works, especially when it’s country-led.

At the WHA78 side event “Communities at the Center: Powering a Movement for UHC in Kenya,” organized by the CHU4UHC coalition, we witnessed the power of a unified, national vision in action. In just a decade, Kenya has moved from unpaid, paper-based volunteers to a compensated, digitally enabled community health workforce.  

This transformation was made possible through strong policies, collaborative advocacy, and sustained investment.  

“The success of CHU4UHC is due to the alignment behind one country-led plan.” – John Wanyungu, Ministry of Health, Kenya.  

Through CHU4UHC, a wide range of stakeholders have come together around a shared vision: to professionalize community health workers, strengthen primary health care, and ensure every household has access to high-quality community-based services” Thomas Onyango, Country Director of Living Goods Kenya. 

Kenya’s example is a blueprint for others, when governments lead and partners align, systemic change becomes possible.  

Read the CHU4UHC coalition’s WHA Press Statement for more.   

2. A global consensus to professionalize CHWs.

Conversations to professionalize CHWs (proCHWs)   were central throughout WHA78. From the Community Health Impact Coalition’s high-level panel to official WHO side events, leaders reaffirmed that proCHWs are essential to achieving universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness.  

“We need to value what CHWs bring and involve us in decision-making.” – CHW Millicent Miruka.

“At the heart of health systems are CHWs. They take vaccines to the last mile.” – Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi.

“With support from partners like The Global Fund, Gavi, and Living Goods, we are making progress to professionalize CHWs and anchor them in our civil service.” – Hon. Robert Kargougou, Minister of Health, Burkina Faso.

💬 “CHWs used to be unrecognized… now we ensure continuous training, kits, and digitization.” – PS MARY MUTHONI, CBS, HSC., Ministry of Health, Kenya.

The message is clear: train them, equip them, pay them, and integrate them. The global movement for professionalization has reached a turning point, and Living Goods is proud to stand together with governments and partners to make it happen.  

3. Digital health transformation and financing reform must go hand in hand.

From co-hosting a consultative dialogue on digitally-enabled community health to amplifying calls for sustainable financing, Living Goods helped surface two interlinked requirements: we can’t scale community health without strong digital foundations, and we can’t sustain it without more domestic investment.  

“This is a subject that lies at the heart of Living Goods’ mission. We are deeply committed to leveraging digital technology and data to enhance community health workers’ performance and improve care quality.”  Thomas Onyango, Country Director of Living Goods Kenya. 

“Increasing domestic financing for health is now not a vision, but an imperative.” – H.E. Amma Twum-Amoah, African Union Commission.  

“We are committed to supporting countries to progressively transition from support through different models like co-financing.” – Peter Sands, The Global Fund.

We’re encouraged by the continued support from multilateral partners, but more importantly, by the resounding calls from countries themselves to take ownership, invest ambitiously, and shape their pathways to UHC.  

Looking Ahead  

WHA78 reminded us that transforming health systems is a long-term journey. As Emilie Chambert, CEO of Living Goods, reflected:  

“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact CHWs have when equipped with digital tools, reliable supplies, strong supervision, and fair compensation. Their work is transformative,not just for individual families, but for entire health systems.”  

Now is the time to act. Let’s build on this momentum to ensure that every community has access to the quality care they deserve, delivered by professional CHWs who are valued and supported for the critical work they do.