When community health work is treated as voluntary labor, it shapes who ends up doing it. As CHW Blanca Flor Rosales Borrego of Peru’s Ministry of Health observes, many men believe unpaid work isn’t worth doing. The result: women often carry the responsibility for community health.
Meet Abel Welwean, this month's spotlight employee!
"I am inspired to work for LMH because of the impact it has made through the National Community Health Program," says Abel, a MERL Specialist in Liberia. "This work saves lives. Being part of a mission-driven team is an honor."
2 years ago, we published a framework with 16 recommendations on building gender-responsive CHW programs with @integratehealth.bsky.social.
On #IWD2026, here's how we're working with govts in Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi & Sierra Leone to put the recommendations into action: bit.ly/4b32ozC
Reaching children who still miss lifesaving vaccines requires stronger immunization systems — and strong immunization systems rely on CHWs.
A new op-ed from @lastmilehealth.bsky.social + @villagereach.bsky.social explores their role in immunization, surveillance, and trust: bit.ly/4rClDGQ
For #IWD2026, we're spotlighting how we are partnering with governments to drive gender equity for #proCHWs.
In Malawi, community midwife assistants work with CHWs to help ensure pregnant women receive quality care. The role offers career opportunities for women while improving access to care.
For #IWD2026, we're spotlighting how we are partnering with governments to drive gender equity for #proCHWs.
In Ethiopia, CHWs receive training via the blended learning approach. The module in reproductive, maternal, & child health contains content equipping them to address gender-based violence.
For #IWD2026, we're spotlighting how we are partnering with governments to drive gender equity for #proCHWs.
In Sierra Leone, geomapping is putting every CHW on the map, including their gender. Understanding the program's gender balance equips leaders to work toward greater gender equity.
The @who.int's new global curriculum guide for CHWs provides a competency-based approach for governments to strengthen & standardize #proCHW training.
We're encouraged by continued progress toward centering CHWs in the push to achieve #HealthForAll: bit.ly/405gSd0
For mothers & children in remote communities, #proCHWs are a lifeline. Women are healthcare providers, too: women CHWs change health outcomes while building their careers & serving as role models for girls.
CHW supervisor Martina Kanneh is doing just that: bit.ly/4aGhCdL
Meet this month's spotlight employee, Prince Gaye, who works as a driver on our Liberia team!
"What inspires me the most is going to remote communities with essential drugs and medical supplies, ensuring that people in hard-to-reach communities receive supplies," says Prince.
"As governments and their partners search for sustainable solutions in a reality where resources are tight, Malawi is a country to watch," writes LMH Malawi's Victoria Munthali Chiumia.
Learn how the Ministry of Health & partners are building resilience: bit.ly/4tqkJih
CHWs are uniquely positioned to overcome barriers to immunization. To realize their full potential, we must elevate and expand their roles.
In a new @gavi.org piece with @villagereach.bsky.social, we shine a light on promising examples from Ethiopia and Liberia. Learn more: bit.ly/4ktornq
This week, our Partnerships & Communications team gathered in Accra, Ghana to strengthen how we work with each other & the partners who make our work possible. We're energized by the time together as we advance our vision of a health worker within reach of everyone, everywhere!
National CHW programs are only successful if governments can own & sustain their impact.
We're proud to share that county health teams have taken on direct management of the National Community Health Program in Grand Bassa & Grand Gedeh, Liberia: bit.ly/4qR2K33
Our 6-month report highlights how we're:
💰Mapping durable financing in Malawi
👩🏿⚕️Charting a vision for the institutionalization of #proCHWs in Sierra Leone
🤝🏿Advancing government ownership in Liberia
📱Leveraging AI to help CHWs make decisions in Ethiopia
...and more: bit.ly/4rm2l8G
Our new AI-powered call center supports Ethiopia's #proCHWs at the point of care: "It gives them instant access to standardized, expert-reviewed advice—helping them deliver better care," writes Last Mile Health's Ethiopia Country Director Abraham Zerihun: bit.ly/4km8g9X
At Last Mile Health, we believe that how we work is just as important as the work we do. "Our values are not just words on paper; we live them every single day as we implement projects," says Tasokwa Nkhonjera, Director of Community Health Systems Strengthening in Malawi:
#proCHWs save lives--but to perform at their best, they need to be fully integrated into the health system. In Sierra Leone through The Global Fund's Project BIRCH, Last Mile Health & the Ministry of Health have charted a course toward institutionalizing CHWs: bit.ly/48O0Ice
As Last Mile Health returns to work, we're invigorated for the year ahead and the work that awaits us. Alongside partners, peers, and #proCHWs, we're more committed than ever to driving progress toward #HealthForAll. We can't wait to see what we can accomplish together in 2026!
We're close out a challenging year with renewed hope: alongside partners, peers, and #proCHWs, we stand strong in our conviction that together we can bring care within reach for all people.
We look forward to continuing our shared work in 2026!
Government-owned, community-led primary care is the path toward #HealthForAll. In the face of drastic cuts to foreign aid, it’s time to invest in what works: high-impact care delivered by community health workers.
Learn more in our 2025 Annual Letter: bit.ly/LMH2025
In the face of the global health funding crisis, we must shift norms and invest in solutions that work. Together, we can drive #HealthForAll through government-owned, community-led primary care. In our Annual Letter, we share our vision for the path ahead: bit.ly/LMH2025
Women make up 70% of the community health workforce—but they face unequal pay, safety risks, & limited advancement opportunities. For the women who deliver lifesaving care to those who need it most, this must change. Join us in driving CHW gender equity: bit.ly/womenCHWs
"CHWs are not a stopgap. They are the backbone of resilient health systems."
In TIME, Davidson Polyte and @joinchic.bsky.social's Madeleine Ballard make the case for #proCHWs as a driver of healthcare access worldwide & a key component to global health security: bit.ly/4oULGYQ
On #WorldAIDSDay, we're reflecting on our roots, launching Liberia’s first rural, public HIV treatment program, where accompaniers like Alphonso Mouwon ensured patients received follow-up care in the community.
All people deserve access to care, no matter where they live.
We're headed to the @techchange.bsky.social Global Digital Health Forum next week in Nairobi, Kenya.
We'll be highlighting our work in Malawi, equipping #proCHWs with digital tools, and learning from peer implementers and tech experts. We hope to see you there! #GDHF2025
In Sierra Leone, a new tool equips supervisors to support #proCHWs in providing quality care. "Supervision helps CHWs understand their duties & take action," says supervisor Abu Samura.
Alongside the Ministry of Health, we've scaled the tool to a 2nd district, with more to come.
Cost & distance created challenges for Ethiopia's Ministry of Health in training 40,000+ #proCHWs. Last Mile Health partnered with the Ministry to develop an innovative blended learning approach that reduces costs & drives learning.
More from @academic.oup.com : bit.ly/487bmMr
We're honored to welcome Nava Anvari of LGT Venture Philanthropy as the newest member of our Advisory Council!
"Primary healthcare is a fundamental right," says Nava. "I am excited to work with Last Mile Health to scale solutions that bring high-quality care to the hardest-to-reach communities."
As #CHWSymposium2025 kicks off, the call from delegates of the last symposium remains true:
"Protected, paid, trained, supervised, and supplied CHWs must be the rule and not the exception."
More at monroviacalltoaction.org.
