I joined Medic in December of 2022 after a fulfilling two years supporting innovation hubs across the African continent. I watched the work that Medic was doing at the height of the covid pandemic and when the opportunity arose, I knew I had to grab it.

As I reflect on my first year, I’m struck by the intensity of our work and the incredible fulfilment that comes from living our purpose as a team and witnessing the profound impact on lives.

Medic designs, delivers, and supports world-class, open-source software for health workers providing care in the world’s hardest-to-reach communities. Contributing to this work has been a whirlwind of purpose-driven moments and transformative experiences for me. 

Our Community Health Toolkit is guiding us and several other organisations to improve global healthcare. Together we’re on a path to achieving a more just world, where universal health coverage is a reality and health is a secured human right. The work is intense and fulfilling.

Technology on its own will not save lives. To truly make an impact and save lives, technology needs the collaboration and support of dedicated healthcare professionals, community workers, policymakers, and a robust healthcare infrastructure. It’s the synergy between technology and humanity that creates meaningful change in healthcare delivery. 

Our work on national deployments illuminates the triumph of collaboration and the impact it can wield when public and private sectors unite for a common cause. Earlier this year, the president of Kenya launched the national electronic community health information system (eCHIS) for Kenya, built with the Community Health Toolkit (CHT), and slated to support over 95,000 Community Health Workers. The relationship with our collaborators at the Ministry of Health in Kenya was critical to this success. They challenged us, celebrated with us, and opened doors for us. There were long hours, unprecedented hurdles, maybe even some tears! But all of these have been surmountable through transparency and openness across the community.

For close to 15 years now, I’ve made it my life’s mission  to build and support communities to develop innovative solutions that transform societies while protecting dignity and impacting economies positively. As Director of Community at Medic, my vehicle has changed but my mission remains the same. I am working to scale the positive health impact achieved with the Community Health Toolkit, by building and fostering a vibrant community of practice. Together, we envision a world where healthcare is of the highest attainable quality, equitable, accessible, and delivered by people who are trusted in their communities, Community Health Workers.  

As we build tools for Community Health Workers, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication and resilience required to provide essential healthcare services to underserved communities. Spending time with Community Health Workers remains a highlight for me. I recently met Mary, a Community Health Worker driven by a desire to reduce incidences of maternal deaths in her community. There are many ‘Mary’s’, driven by a desire to see their communities thrive. I draw inspiration from them.

Community Health Workers are indeed heroes who walk among us, tirelessly dedicating themselves to the well-being of communities. They are the backbone of healthcare delivery in many regions, serving as a crucial link between communities and formal healthcare systems. They offer essential health education, provide preventive care, facilitate access to healthcare services, and often serve as advocates for the health needs of their communities.

To immerse myself in this space; learning from and supporting Community Health Workers and our community of practice is such an honour. It’s been truly inspiring to see lives transformed through our collective efforts, reaffirming the profound impact technology can have on health equity when put in the right hands.

As I commemorate this one-year milestone, I’m deeply grateful for the intensity of this journey. Feeling the fulfilment of living my purpose every day makes this journey incredibly meaningful.