Living Goods holds a unique position in the digital health space, serving as both an accelerator and an implementing partner. Through our well-established, government-led learning hub, we foster innovations across the continuum of care to enhance efficiencies and improve health outcomes.

One of our key priorities this year is to position the learning hub as a Government innovation Hub for Community Health Interventions under the National Ministry of Health. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting the Deputy Head of the Division of Community Health Services at the Ministry of Health in Busia for a high level dissemination event. 

Our recent collaboration with the Busia County Government showcased three groundbreaking community health initiatives that are transforming healthcare delivery in the region. 

1. Telehealth and CHP In-Person Hybrid Service Model 

In partnership with HealthX Africa and MOH, we piloted a telehealth service in Teso North, connecting pregnant women and new mothers to on-call doctors for medical advice and referrals. This hybrid model blends virtual telehealth services with in-person support from Community Health Workers (CHWs), improving demand, access, and the timeliness of essential care during the postnatal period. 

Leveraging multiple channels—including SMS, toll-free hotline, USSD, and IVR—we are generating operational evidence to assess which modalities are most effective in remote, underserved settings. 

The intervention targets households with pregnant women and newborns in urban and peri-urban areas, where at least a basic feature phone is available. 

Additionally, we are providing technical leadership to the National Ministry of Health in the development of Kenya’s first National Telemedicine Standards and Guidelines, strengthening the digital health ecosystem. 

2. Animated Maternal and Newborn Nutrition Films 

We’ve harnessed the power of visual learning to enhance health education through short, animated videos, developed in collaboration with Medical Aid Films (MAF). These engaging animations are used by Community Health Promoters (CHPs) during home visits to counsel mothers on key topics including antenatal care (ANC), breastfeeding, postnatal care (PNC), and nutrition during pregnancy. 

The intervention has driven significant behavior change—early ANC attendance rose from 85% to 100%, with the number of mothers identifying the first month as the ideal time for ANC increasing from 24% to 73%. Knowledge of iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) improved, with daily dosage awareness climbing from 79% to 100%, and consistent intake from 55% to 95%.

The initiative also fostered greater male involvement in ANC and strengthened awareness among mothers and CHPs of the importance of balanced nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding. These videos were widely accepted and proved to be a valuable tool in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. 

3. Self-Paced eLearning Platform for CHPs 

To strengthen the capacity of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) as essential frontline providers, Living Goods and Busia County has launched a self-paced eLearning platform pilot target CHPs. This innovative solution enables CHPs to enhance their skills and knowledge at their own pace, supporting continuous professional development while balancing their community health responsibilities.   

The pilot, co-designed with Kenya’s Ministry of Health, targets 260 CHPs across Matayos and Teso South sub-counties. Leveraging a Learning Management System (LMS), Optimize training delivery through the LMS for improved accessibility, cost-effectiveness, knowledge improvement and service quality. Plans are underway to scale this solution, reaching up to 800 CHPs across Busia which will be informed by the pilot impact report. 

Government support and future plans 

At this dissemination event, key government officials highlighted the importance of these innovations in advancing community health services. Mr. John Wanyungu, Deputy Head of the Division of Community Health Services at the Ministry of Healh highlighted the critical role of government involvement throughout the innovation cycle to ensure ownership and long-term sustainability. He also stressed the need to focus on improving CHP performance, as they are the backbone of essential community health services. 

Mr. Joseph Oprong, Acting Director for Preventive and Promotive Health, noted that these innovations have established a strong foundation for improving CHP performance and driving better health outcomes at the community level. He stressed the importance of adopting cost-effective and interactive approaches in the face of limited resources. 

Our partnership with Busia County Government exemplifies the power of collaboration in driving health innovation. By positioning the learning hub as a Government Innovation Hub for Community Health Interventions under the National Ministry of Health, Living Goods aims to scale these innovations and create a lasting impact on healthcare delivery across Kenya. 

CHPs who atended reported that telehealth strengthened their community role, animated videos made follow-ups more effective, and the e-learning platform was user-friendly across generations. 

The event, which brought together over 40 stakeholders including healthcare workers, county health management teams, and key partners, marks a significant step forward in our mission to improve community health through innovative digital solutions.