Living Goods at UNGA79: Scaling Community Health Plans in Africa—A Vital Dialogue with Leaders

This week at UNGA79, leaders from Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia engaged in a powerful dialogue on scaling community health initiatives. Hosted by Africa Frontline First and Africa CDC, the session emphasized the critical role community health workers (CHWs) play in addressing public health crises such as COVID-19 and Ebola.

During the session, Dr. Richard Kabanda, Commissioner for Health Promotion, Uganda, called for better partner coordination to reduce resource wastage and fragmentation. He also highlighted the importance of Community Health registries centralization to address household-level health challenges and stressed the need for engaging heads of state in supporting community health programs.

“In countries where we have traction with community health programs, heads of state have been key in making decisions. We need to find ways of engaging heads of state,” he said.

Margaret Odera, a community health promoter from Kenya, expressed her gratitude for the increasing recognition of Community Health Workers (CHWs).

She stated, “We have moved from being on the menu to being at the table. When we were on the menu, we were eaten. Now that we are at the table, we are eating with you. CHWs have the proximity and trust of the communities they serve.”

She also advocated for the professionalization of CHWs across Africa. Dr. Henry Mwebesa, Uganda’s Director General of Health Services, shared the need for government-led CHW programs to improve coordination and resource utilization.

Dr. Sanderson Kuyeli, representing Dr. Samson Mndolo, Malawi’s PS Health, described Community Health Workers (CHWs) as the “heart and engine of the health system.” They are essential in ensuring healthcare delivery to the most remote areas.

Marissa Leffler of UBS Optimus Foundation underscored the need for catalytic capital to achieve impactful and measurable health goals.

Since 2007, Living Goods has proudly partnered with Uganda’s Ministry of Health and district governments to recruit, train, and support CHWs, known locally as Village Health Teams (VHTs). These dedicated health workers deliver vital services to communities, and We have also provided both technical and financial support to ensure their ongoing success.

As Africa continues to strengthen its community health systems, it is essential to mobilize coordinated investment approaches and sustainable financing to close the growing funding gap in Sub-Saharan Africa’s community health efforts. Together, we can ensure every community has access to the health services they deserve.