As I look back on my second year at Medic, one thing stands out above all else: humanity. Not just in its abstract form, but in the myriad ways I’ve seen it manifest in the digital health space—the ways people show up, innovate, connect, care, encourage, advocate, empathise, and question.

In the world of digital health, humanity is expressed in compelling ways. For some, it’s the relentless pursuit of scalable deployments—designing systems that ensure no one is left behind as solutions grow. For others, it’s the tireless effort to center users in every implementation, every feature, every conversation, ensuring that what we build is not just useful but also meaningful. And for others still, it’s the relentless advocacy for bigger national healthcare budgets and better working conditions for health workers.

But even within this vast ecosystem of inspiring healthcare workers—from doctors and nurses to policy advocates and technologists—the work of community health workers (CHWs) stands out in unique and transformative ways. Their contributions amplify the impact of the entire healthcare system, often serving as the first and most trusted point of care in their communities. This year, I’ve been particularly moved by the profound expressions of humanity embodied by CHWs, who work tirelessly to bridge gaps and bring care to those who might otherwise be left behind.

I saw CHW expressions of humanity in healthier families in some of the hardest-to-reach areas. I saw it in communities that they back and champion – and in how those communities championed them too. There is a level of humanity unlocked only by a deep sense of trust, a trust that I saw shared between CHWs and their communities.

I saw CHW humanity in the way they chose to show up, despite challenges that could easily discourage anyone else. Lacking connectivity when you need it most, or lack of tools and medicines that enable you to provide care, can be demoralising. And yet, CHWs show up, doing the best they can with what they have. All they ask of the rest of us in the ecosystem is to keep our promises: equip them to offer mission-critical care to their communities.

I saw CHW humanity in how they innovate, connect, care, encourage, advocate, empathise, and question. To witness their work is to witness humanity in its purest form: a genuine commitment to others, born not out of obligation but out of love and a deep sense of shared responsibility. And it’s not just about what they do, but how they do it—with resilience, grace, and an unshakeable belief in the value of every human life. 

2024 reminded me constantly that there is no health equity until we all have access to healthcare. So there is still much work left to do. Proving the value of digitalisation was just the beginning. Now we have the opportunity to demonstrate what happens when humanity is fused into digitalisation. CHWs are at the heart of this demonstration, but they cannot do it alone. They need tools, resources, and systems that amplify their impact. They need the rest of us to see their humanity and meet it with our own—through action, through investment, through care.At the end of the day, whether we are CHWs, nurses, doctors, activists, funders or technologists, we show our humanity by seeing and standing with others.

As I close 2024, I am endlessly grateful for all the CHWs I’ve met, for the lessons they’ve taught me, and for their unwavering commitment to humanity. It’s been an honour to witness their work, to support it, and to learn from it. Their expressions of humanity are a reminder of what’s possible when we truly care—for each other, and for the world we share.To the CHWs out there: thank you for showing us what it means to be human. You inspire us to be better, to do more, and to never stop imagining what’s possible.

As I look ahead to my third year at Medic, I’m filled with even more excitement and a deep sense of purpose. I want to understand, support, and amplify the expressions of humanity within the Community Health Toolkit (CHT) community. Humanity, as I’ve come to see it, is not just the heart of the work we do at Medic—it’s the foundation for its potential to achieve the unimaginable. 

By centring humanity, we unlock the transformative power of not just the CHT, but also the collective efforts of tools, resources, funders, doctors, technologists, and countless others who are working tirelessly to integrate community health workers into health systems that truly serve everyone. The journey to universal health coverage is wrought with sweat, tears, heartache, and limited resources—but the destination keeps us hopeful: a future where no one is left behind, and humanity remains the driving force for equitable, lasting change.

Here’s to 2025 and all the possibilities it holds!