Teach to Reach (English)

# Health workers share measles outbreak experiences in global learning exchange During the October 13, 2023 session of Teach to Reach 9, immunization professionals from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Uganda exchanged specific experiences responding to measles outbreaks. The session focused not on technical guidelines, which participants already implement through their national programs, but on the practical challenges and solutions they have developed in their local contexts. ## Field experiences and local innovations Dr. Isha Goyal, WHO surveillance officer in India, described analyzing outbreak data that revealed 90% of cases concentrated in a single community. Despite engaging religious and community leaders, vaccination coverage remained at 60-70% post-outbreak. She noted that the same community consistently refused vaccines across different immunization programs, raising questions about current engagement approaches. In Nigeria, Mudassir Abdullahi from Skano State Hospital outlined how response teams mapped affected settlements and conducted household assessments that revealed missed vaccinations. The team combined awareness activities with vaccination services, leading to reduced cases in previously affected areas. Dr. Bala Ganesh Kumar, WHO medical officer in South India, shared a systematic response protocol initiated by a hospital case notification: - Sample collection for laboratory confirmation - Formation of epidemic response teams at district and block levels - House-to-house surveys in affected areas and schools - Line listing of fever/rash cases from previous 90 days - Catch-up vaccination for children with immunity gaps Dr. Kamran Khan described Pakistan's 2021 nationwide campaign strategies that achieved 95% coverage: - Public vaccination of policymakers' children - School-based outreach covering 70% of target population - Direct engagement with hesitant parents through schools - Coordinated media management for adverse events ## Implementation challenges identified Participants shared several common challenges: 1. Data and tracking: - Mobile population movement during investigations - Incomplete vaccination records for second doses - Limited data sharing between facilities 2. Vaccine delivery: - Supply chain disruptions - Reluctance to open multi-dose vials - Geographic access barriers 3. Community engagement: - Persistent vaccine hesitancy in specific groups - Limited success with traditional approaches - Need for new strategies for consistently refusing communities ## Analysis and recommendations Lora Shimp synthesized three key approaches from the shared experiences: 1. Data utilization: "Using data to really help us identify where we have missed infants or younger children who may have received one dose of measles, but not two doses." 2. Health system operations: "Working with the health system to address these problems, to better communicate how to get, not to turn people away, what are the best ways to organize these services." 3. Campaign duration: "That campaign shouldn't just stop the day we're doing vaccination... planning for four weeks so that you also follow up with those communities that have been missed." ## Next steps The session highlighted several areas requiring further examination: - Analysis of patterns in vaccine refusal across programs - Development of new approaches for consistently refusing communities - Improved systems for vaccination record keeping - Strengthened preparedness planning Participants continued discussions through networking sessions to explore specific challenges in more detail. Note: Names have been transcribed from the session recording. Their spelling therefore may be inaccurate.

# Field workers share innovative approaches to HPV vaccination acceptance at Teach to Reach 9 Healthcare workers and community leaders from multiple countries shared their frontline experiences with HPV vaccination programs during a special session at Teach to Reach 9, highlighting successful strategies for building vaccine confidence and overcoming hesitancy. The session, which followed up on discussions from Teach to Reach 8, focused on the critical question "How have you made HPV vaccination work for girls and women?" Against the backdrop of concerning statistics - 600,000 new cervical cancer cases and 340,000 deaths annually, with vaccination coverage declining since the COVID-19 pandemic - participants shared concrete examples of local solutions. ## Nigeria launches nationwide campaign Boma Otobo, an adolescent health and HPV vaccine introduction consultant to Lagos state, described Nigeria's preparations for a major HPV vaccination campaign launching October 24, 2023. The initiative targets girls aged 9-14 years through both school-based and community outreach approaches. "We have done the micro plan in Nigeria. We have been able to get our HR requirements sorted. Logistics have moved," Otobo explained. The program conducted rapid community assessments and extensive engagement with schools, religious groups, and traditional leaders to address concerns and build support. ## Community-level innovation Several speakers highlighted the critical importance of direct community engagement: Zuhura Gaki Ahmed, a community health worker from Meru, Kenya, described her successful approach to addressing vaccine hesitancy: "I talked to both the mother and the girls...I gave them an example of a certain lady who had this problem. When she was asked whether she had ever been vaccinated, she said she had never been vaccinated." In Uganda, Rebecca Akelo, a public health nurse, leveraged concerning data on teenage pregnancies to build support for HPV vaccination. She engaged education officials and school leaders, using parent-teacher meetings to explain the science behind the vaccine. "I had to draw for them the uterus and locate where the cervix is and how the vaccine will prevent cervical cancer. They really appreciated the science behind that," Akelo shared. ## Integration and partnership approaches Michael Jones from Sierra Leone described an innovative approach of integrating HPV vaccination with COVID-19 vaccination, which helped overcome resource constraints while achieving higher than expected coverage. The program vaccinated girls at age 10 for HPV and both boys and girls at age 12 for COVID-19. In India, Dr. O.P. Kansal highlighted a new initiative to address hesitancy among medical professionals themselves. The American Cancer Society, working with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Society of India, launched virtual training programs to build healthcare provider confidence in recommending HPV vaccination. ## Key success factors Laura Shimp, director of the Immunization Center at JSI, identified three critical elements for successful HPV vaccination programs: 1. Leveraging girl advocates and peer-to-peer learning 2. Partnering with cancer prevention groups to emphasize the vaccine's role in cancer prevention 3. Building strong partnerships with education ministries and religious groups Deepa Pokhrel from UNICEF headquarters emphasized the importance of: - Conducting rapid community assessments to understand local concerns - Engaging young people directly in program design - Addressing misinformation quickly through trusted community channels - Moving beyond mass media to focus on sustained community engagement The session demonstrated how local innovation and adaptation, combined with strong partnerships and community engagement, can help overcome hesitancy and build acceptance of HPV vaccination. These insights will be particularly valuable as more countries launch or expand their HPV vaccination programs. ## About Teach to Reach Teach to Reach is a global forum where healthcare workers, community leaders, and public health professionals share field experiences and practical solutions. The format combines plenary sessions with networking opportunities, allowing participants to learn both from formal presentations and direct peer-to-peer exchanges. This session was part of Teach to Reach 9, building on discussions from previous events while incorporating new experiences and innovations from the field.

# Global Climate and Health Survey Partners Mobilize for Community Impact Health professionals and community leaders gathered on February 5, 2025, to advance a groundbreaking global climate and health survey initiative. The virtual check-in session brought together participants from multiple continents to discuss dissemination strategies for reaching frontline health workers and communities most affected by climate change. ## Survey to Guide Major New Funding Program Joanna Sanchez from Grand Challenges Canada revealed that the survey will inform a significant new climate and health funding program. "This is going to be a very exciting year for us," Sanchez explained. "The survey will guide us as we develop this new funding program, expected to launch between January and March of 2026." The initiative represents an unprecedented approach to program development. "We are here to learn, listen, and take inputs from local communities," Sanchez emphasized. "We have never done quite like this before, taking experiences from those at the frontlines of the climate and health crisis to guide funding priorities." ## Global Partners Unite for Grassroots Engagement The survey has rapidly gained support from major global organizations. Originally launched as a partnership between Grand Challenges Canada and the Geneva Learning Foundation, it has expanded to include multilateral organizations, NGOs, and international funders. The initiative was recently featured in The Lancet Global Health, accompanied by an expert panel representing every continent. ## Community Health Workers Share Climate Impact Experiences Participants described stark realities of climate change effects on healthcare delivery. Alaouiatu from the Nanani Women and Youth Development Foundation highlighted specific challenges: "We have a lot of rivers and streams, and it is a barrier to our health professionals in crossing those streams to reach settlements to deliver vaccines or medications." ## Strategic Dissemination Plans Emerge Health leaders outlined concrete plans for sharing the survey. Kingsley Kofi Nignere, from Ghana's Community Youth Development Foundation, detailed his organization's approach: "I will share with Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, which is made up of 150 members, and Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Climate Change, with 100 members." Paul Oche, working with Malaria Consortium in Nigeria, emphasized reaching diverse sectors: "I will be sharing with my professional colleagues and coursemates in health economics, as well as those in energy and gas and green energy sectors for their perspectives." ## Looking Ahead The survey results will be presented publicly between September and October 2025. Partners are encouraged to complete organizational applications and document their dissemination efforts through a structured process that includes sharing across multiple platforms and tracking reach. The initiative emphasizes three primary areas of investigation: - Observable climate changes in local communities - Health impacts of these changes - Barriers to protecting community health As Mario Chazidamianos noted during the session, "Teach to Reach is turning into something more - a network of proactive professionals looking to take care of the world."

🎧 “AI is not about replacing health workers, but enhancing what we already do well in global health”. Explore how AI partnerships – not AI tools – could transform health worker networks. Listen to this AI podcast about Reda Sadki’s framework for AI as co-worker in global health to support local action through peer learning networks. How could AI as a partner to health workers be a game changer for pandemic preparedness? How might it help tackle climate change impacts on health? What about neglected tropical diseases? Learn how AI partnership could enhance collective capabilities while preserving human agency and local leadership. Join the conversation about the future of AI in global health. #globalhealth #AI #podcast 🤖 This podcast was generated by AI, discussing Reda Sadki’s 24 January 2025 article “A global health framework for Artificial Intelligence as co-worker to support networked learning and local action”. While the conversation is AI-generated, the framework and examples discussed are based on the published article.

Health workers share frontline malaria experiences at Teach to Reach preview ahead of December special event On December 5, 2024, health workers from across Africa gathered for a special preview session focused on malaria as part of Teach to Reach 11, setting the stage for a major event on December 10 focused on uniting health workers to end malaria. The session, hosted by the Geneva Learning Foundation in partnership with the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, featured powerful firsthand accounts from health workers dealing with malaria in their communities. The preview session highlighted how climate change and severe weather events are intensifying malaria challenges in many regions. Maman Godiya, a UNICEF social behavioral change consultant in Sokoto, Nigeria, described a recent malaria outbreak following heavy rainfall and flooding. She noted that while free drugs and mosquito nets were distributed, insecurity and banditry prevented reaching some affected communities, leading to deaths from cerebral malaria. Margaret Nabagala Ntambazi, a public health specialist from Masaka City, Uganda, shared a recent case of a five-year-old child who required intensive care for severe malaria. In response, her team organized community dialogues about malaria prevention, particularly focusing on environmental factors like tall grass and maize cultivation that provide mosquito breeding grounds. She emphasized the need for proper use of insecticide-treated nets, noting that some community members were using them for other purposes like coffee drying or fishing. Joseph Ngougi, a community health officer from Muranga County, Kenya, described how malaria recently affected his wife so severely she required injectable treatment instead of oral medication. His experience highlighted that anyone can be affected by malaria, regardless of their health worker status or knowledge. Kingston Kufi Nyerere from Ghana's Mono East region shared a particularly poignant story about his pregnant sister who couldn't access Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp), leading to malaria infection and subsequent miscarriage. He emphasized the critical importance of both preventive treatment and insecticide-treated nets for pregnant women. The session concluded with Beri Ani Gariba, malaria monitoring and evaluation officer for Cameroon's Northwest region, describing his own recent bout with severe malaria that occurred despite his expertise and access to healthcare facilities. Looking ahead, the December 10 special event will explore deeper questions about access to malaria medicines and tests, prevention strategies for pregnant women, community mobilization successes, and the impact of weather changes on malaria transmission. The event builds on contributions from health workers across multiple countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, and Nigeria. The preview session demonstrated the Teach to Reach platform's ability to facilitate direct sharing of experiences among health workers, with over 15,000 health professionals registered for the broader event. Participants can access a full participant list and connect with colleagues working on similar challenges. Key themes emerging from the session included: - The intersection of climate change and malaria transmission - Challenges in reaching insecure areas - The importance of community education and proper use of preventive tools - The need for reliable access to treatments and preventive medicines - The particular vulnerability of pregnant women and children - The value of learning from peers' experiences and solutions The December 10 special event will continue these discussions, bringing together frontline health workers with national program managers and global partners to address these critical challenges in malaria control and elimination.

#Global survey gathers health worker insights on climate change impacts Teach to Reach’s health leaders met today to share feedback and insights to strengthen are contributing the climate-health risks and barriers survey initiative developed by The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) with Grand Challenges Canada (GCC). Teach to Reach, a peer learning platform that connects over 20,000 health professionals from 70 countries, provided the initial testing ground for the survey. The platform brings together frontline health workers, district managers, and national planners to share experiences and solutions across borders, with 80% of participants working at district and facility levels. ## Survey pilots shape future global climate and health funding The Geneva Learning Foundation hosted a special consultation on January 8, 2025, to debrief findings from a pilot survey that will inform future funding for climate-driven health crises. The survey aims to gather frontline perspectives to guide evidence-based investment prioritization in climate-sensitive health risks and health system barriers. The pilot phase collected 306 responses from health leaders participating in Teach to Reach 11, a global peer learning platform that connects health professionals working at all levels of health systems across borders. ## Global launch and reach Dr. Joanna Sanchez, Climate and Health Lead at GCC, announced the full survey will launch on January 15, 2025, in multiple languages. The survey will be distributed through major global networks including WHO, multilateral organizations, ministries of health, and health professional associations. “We are excited to hear what those at the front lines of this challenge are thinking, what the perceptions are, what the ideas are,” said Dr. Sanchez. “This will inform research, policy, funding, and where we can work together globally on solutions.” ## Survey focus and structure The survey explores three key areas: - Observable climate changes in communities - Health impacts of these changes - Barriers to protecting community health The survey has been carefully designed to be accessible to respondents across different education levels while maintaining scientific rigor. Questions focus on recent experiences within the past two years to ensure reliable recall, with opportunities to consider future challenges over the next decade. ## Early insights from pilot phase Survey statistician John Wagai gave a brief presentatino of preliminary analysis showing respondent diversity and strong African participation. The African region is the most-impacted region with the least research and evidence available. ## Stakeholder feedback shapes improvements Health leaders provided valuable input for enhancing the survey’s effectiveness: Lilian Mutua, head of health promotion for Nairobi City County, Kenya, emphasized the interconnected nature of impacts: “When we look at climate change...it was not only about health. We had destruction of environments, inaccessibility to health services...We also had issues of mental health.” Sabatu Elizabeth Danladi, founder of African Hope for Community Progress Initiative in Nigeria, highlighted food security concerns: “Most farmers are facing challenges, difficulty to feed because farmlands are washed away by flood...This poses a threat to nutrition of children and pregnant women.” ## Next steps and timeline The survey will remain open for six weeks after its January launch. Results will help Grand Challenges Canada and partners create new funding opportunities for local solutions to climate-driven health challenges. The findings will undergo expert analysis in spring 2025, with results expected to be presented at Climate Week or the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. This will be followed by the launch of a new grand challenge funding call focused on identified priorities. ## Commitment to community engagement The Geneva Learning Foundation emphasized its commitment to sharing findings back with participants. As the Foundation’s Executive Director, Reda Sadki, explained: “If we ask you for information...our commitment is to give back and to make sure you are closely involved in the process that is ultimately about you and the communities that you serve.” This initiative represents a significant step in connecting global funding decisions with ground-level realities faced by health workers as they confront climate change impacts on community health. By engaging frontline perspectives, the survey aims to ensure future investments address the most pressing needs of affected communities.

# Health Leaders Report Valuable Exchanges in Teach to Reach Networking Session ## Structured Approach to Peer Learning The final session of Teach to Reach 11 on December 5, 2024, demonstrated the power of structured networking to facilitate meaningful knowledge exchange between health professionals. Participants engaged in focused small-group conversations. ## Benefits of Organizational Engagement The session highlighted four key benefits for participating organizations: - Recognition of real-world expertise through peer validation - Reciprocal learning opportunities regardless of organization size - Integration into a global platform and community - Skills development through active learning for staff and volunteers ## Cross-Border Knowledge Exchange Health leaders reported valuable cross-border exchanges in their breakout groups. A participant from India described productive discussions with colleagues from Ghana and Nigeria, leading to plans for continued collaboration: “We decided to connect with emails and personally in the group and then one-to-one interaction... If somebody is doing work on immunization in one part of the world, somebody else is also doing the same thing, so they can connect and discuss issues, barriers, and breakthroughs.” ## Solutions Through Connection Participants emphasized how networking enabled practical problem-solving. “If you have a particular issue that is difficult for you to solve, having the opportunity to discuss with one person, maybe he has strategies he adopted in his environment that can be suitable for you,” explained Usman Mohammed Tukor from Nigeria. He highlighted how these connections could strengthen responses to challenges like climate change impacts on health. ## Local Innovation Sharing The discussions surfaced innovative local approaches. Sadatu Kabir from Bauchi State, Nigeria, shared their community engagement structure: “We have a committee at the community level... and a community resource group called Mama to Mama that can go house to house to assess problems and needs.” This included creative solutions like an emergency transport system to improve healthcare access. ## Progressive Engagement The session’s structure—moving from brief introductions to increasingly longer discussions—allowed relationships to develop naturally. As Charlotte Mbuh from the facilitation team noted, “Even when starting with just introductions, participants quickly moved into deeper discussions about their work.” ## Platform for Continued Connection Beyond the live sessions, Teach to Reach introduced a new platform feature allowing participants to create profiles and maintain connections with over 15,000 health workers. This infrastructure supports ongoing peer learning and collaboration between live events. ## Looking Ahead The networking session concluded Teach to Reach 11’s main event, but participants were encouraged to maintain their connections through: - Upcoming special sessions, including a December 13 event with the Lancet Countdown - The Reach Leaders and Partners Network - The platform’s networking features - Future Teach to Reach events, with the 12th edition planned for March 2025 The success of this structured networking approach demonstrates how intentional connection-building between health professionals can catalyze knowledge sharing and practical innovation to address global health challenges.

# Before launching a survey on climate-health barriers and risks, Grand Challenges Canada listened and learned at Teach to Reach 11 ## New Partnership to Amplify Frontline Voices Grand Challenges Canada announced a pioneering partnership at Teach to Reach 11 on December 5, 2024, launching a global initiative to capture frontline health workers’ experiences of climate change impacts. The organization will begin with a pilot survey among Teach to Reach participants, informing a major new climate and health funding program planned for 2026. “We want to take the questions to those best placed to identify the problems – the people at the frontlines of this climate crisis,” explained Joanna Sanchez, an epidemiologist representing Grand Challenges Canada. The initiative aims to identify critical barriers preventing effective responses to climate-related health challenges in low and middle-income countries. ## Frontline Testimonies of Climate Impact Health workers shared powerful accounts from their communities. In the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, Dr. Mahesh Bhatt described a “vicious cycle” where climate change is disrupting social determinants of health. “The frequency and severity of extreme weather events, flash floods, forest fires, disasters and new diseases like malaria and dengue have increased in the last two decades,” he reported, emphasizing that local communities with minimal carbon footprints are bearing the heaviest burden. Margaret Nabagala from Uganda detailed recent devastating impacts: “We lost 82 lives in Eastern Uganda due to soil erosion and flooding. Homesteads were flooded and covered with soil.” She outlined government efforts to relocate affected communities and strengthen early warning systems. ## Barriers to Effective Response Health workers identified specific obstacles hampering their efforts. Alima Usman from Nigeria described challenges during flood response: “Because the water was so much, we couldn’t get access to electric boats. We had to use local boats available in the community, which slowed rescue efforts.” Community understanding emerged as another key challenge. Usman Mohammed Tukor noted: “People don’t believe climate change affects their health. There is need for people to know how it is related to their health.” He explained how poor sanitation and drainage create mosquito breeding grounds, increasing malaria risk, particularly among pregnant women. ## Innovative Funding Approach The new Grand Challenges Canada program, launching in early 2026, will support innovative local solutions to climate-health challenges. “We’re looking for big ideas for big problems,” said Sanchez, emphasizing that funding will be open to organizations from all low and middle-income countries. The program may feature region-specific funding streams based on survey findings. ## Participatory Research Design The partnership represents a shift in how climate and health funding priorities are determined. “No one is asking us. We are here. We are seeing the challenges, we are experiencing them,” Sanchez quoted from earlier consultations, explaining the choice of a participatory approach. ## Next Steps The pilot survey with Teach to Reach participants will inform a broader global survey in 2026. Results will guide funding priorities and serve as a public resource for policymakers, researchers, and funders working on climate and health challenges. The initiative recognizes that while climate change is a global crisis, its health impacts disproportionately affect communities that have contributed least to the problem. Through this partnership, Grand Challenges Canada aims to ensure that solutions are informed by and responsive to frontline experiences.

# Health leaders share practical solutions at Teach to Reach forum “We would like to strengthen the capacity of community health promoters and align with global efforts in health education,” said Alicia Sheringham from Kenya’s national association for community health workers (ARCHVOG) during the December 5 Leaders and Partners Forum. Her organization, like many others joining Teach to Reach 11, aims to connect local health needs with broader health initiatives. The forum brought together health workers from community clinics to national programs to share what works in their communities. This continues the peer learning approach that engaged over 21,000 participants in June 2024, with 80% working at district and facility levels. ## Real challenges, real solutions In Nigeria’s Bauchi State, Ibilola Atureta explained how Glorious Elixir Foundation conducts medical outreach: “We do medical outreaches to some communities here. Teach to Reach has exposed me to community and collaboration we can learn from ourselves.” Small group discussions revealed common challenges across borders. Bernard Oteno, whose year-old organization works on malaria prevention in Kenya, noted their main barrier: “The main challenge we still have is funding, because it’s just a small organization that has about 50 people, community health workers coming together.” ## Learning from each other In structured networking sessions, participants shared specific solutions despite technical challenges. One group discussion included experiences from Ghana about staffing issues, vaccine availability challenges in Abuja, and efforts to involve community health workers in decision-making in Kenya. Dr. Mahesh Bhatt, working in India’s Himalayan region, described the value of these connections: “If somebody is doing some work on immunization in other part of the world, somebody else is also doing the same thing - they can connect with each other and discuss the issues and barriers as well as the breakthroughs.” ## Next steps The forum preceded sessions focusing on: - Nigeria’s immunization collaborative - Malaria prevention and control with RBM Partnership - Climate change health impacts with Grand Challenges Canada Organizations interested in participating can learn more through the conference platform. There is no cost for locally-led organizations serving community needs. The forum demonstrates how connecting health workers across borders helps share practical solutions to common challenges. As Chinwe Enechukwu noted after a networking session: “It was a wonderful room. I would love to go back and continue with the discussion.”

An AI-generated dialogue exploring The Geneva Learning Foundation’s progress in 2024 This experimental AI-generated podcast demonstrates a novel approach to exploring complex learning concepts through structured dialogue. Based on TGLF’s 2024 end-of-year message and supplementary materials, the conversation examines their peer learning model through a combination of concrete examples and theoretical reflection. The dialogue format enables exploration of how knowledge emerges through structured interaction, even in AI-generated content. Experimental nature and limitations: This content is being shared as an exploration of how AI might contribute to learning and knowledge construction. While based on TGLF’s actual 2024 message, the dialogue includes AI-generated elaborations that may contain inaccuracies. However, these limitations themselves provide interesting insights into how knowledge emerges through interaction, even in artificial contexts. Pedagogical value and theoretical implications: 1. Structured knowledge construction: The conversational format illustrates how knowledge can emerge through carefully structured dialogue, even when artificially generated. This mirrors TGLF’s own insights about how structure enables rather than constrains learning. 2. Multi-level learning: The dialogue operates on multiple levels: - Direct information sharing about TGLF’s work - Modeling of reflective dialogue - Meta-level exploration of how knowledge emerges through interaction - Integration of concrete examples with theoretical reflection 1. Network effects in learning: The conversation demonstrates how different types of knowledge (statistical, narrative, theoretical, practical) can be woven together through dialogue to create deeper understanding. This parallels TGLF’s observations about how learning emerges through structured networks of interaction. We invite listeners to consider: - How dialogue enables exploration of complex ideas - The role of structure in enabling knowledge emergence - The relationship between concrete examples and theoretical understanding - The potential and limitations of AI in supporting learning processes This experiment invites reflection not just on the content itself, but on how knowledge and understanding emerge through structured interaction - whether human or artificial. Your insights about how this format affects your understanding will help inform future explorations of AI’s role in learning. What aspects of the dialogue format enhanced or hindered your understanding? How did the interplay of concrete examples and reflective discussion affect your learning? We welcome your thoughts on these deeper questions about how learning happens through structured interaction.

We will publish a selection of your TGLF stories submitted by 5 January 2025. Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to build on this momentum together. While we know this is a difficult time for many colleagues, particularly those serving communities affected by crisis and conflict, we hope you can find moments of peace and connection. We deeply appreciate your commitment to learning and leading change. Together, we are showing that new ways of learning and connecting can strengthen health and hope in communities worldwide. More than that, we’re demonstrating that when we rethink how learning happens, we can unlock unprecedented possibilities for positive change. Wishing you renewed energy and inspiration for the journey ahead. Reda Sadki The Geneva Learning Foundation PS You can learn more from experiences shared on our YouTube, Telegram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook channels. Are you following us?

Join us for this Teach to Reach dialogue between research and experience, with Dr Marina Romanello, the Countdown’s Executive Director. Register now for this special event https://bit.ly/TeachToReach11 The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change brings the data. Health workers bring the stories. Teach to Reach is the world’s largest peer learning platform for health workers. 24,583 health workers – primarily government staff from Africa, Asia, and Latin America – on the frontlines of climate change and health joined the eleventh edition on 5-6 December 2024. How do The Lancet Countdown’s global findings align with what health workers observe first-hand in their communities? How might scientific data and health worker experiences combine to deepen our understanding of climate change’s health impacts?

To end malaria, we must empower the people closest to the problem – health workers in affected communities. A special event organized by The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) in partnership with RBM Partnership to End Malaria brought together health workers from every malaria-endemic country to share firsthand experiences fighting malaria. Over 1,700 health professionals (619 francophone and 1,096 anglophone) registered for this bilingual event, which connected practitioners across language barriers from high-burden countries including Nigeria, DRC, Kenya, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon. The partnership aims to integrate community-based health workers’ insights into global malaria elimination strategies. Health workers shared powerful testimonials and practical experiences: - Impacts of extreme weather and flooding on disease transmission patterns - Growing drug resistance concerns and supply chain disruptions - Innovative community engagement strategies for prevention - Successes and challenges in vaccine introduction - Cultural barriers to early treatment seeking - Local adaptations of bed net distribution methods - Strategies for reaching remote communities, especially during floods - Special approaches for protecting pregnant women and children This enabled meaningful exchange despite geographical and technological barriers. This innovative format aimed to enable authentic exchange of practical, experiential knowledge that complements scientific expertise, guidelines and plans. The event is part of TGLF’s peer learning to action process that includes: 1. Structured pre-event knowledge sharing through targeted questions 2. Direct exchange and network building during events 3. Post-event support to turn insights into action through facilitated planning and implementation For global health funders and malaria partners, this model offers a scalable approach to strengthening elimination efforts through locally-led action. Research has shown it can accelerate implementation of new approaches by up to 7x compared to traditional methods, with particular effectiveness in fragile contexts. The special event also demonstrated how digital platforms can enable meaningful practitioner exchange at scale. By connecting those closest to the challenges with those shaping global strategy, such exchanges help ensure malaria elimination efforts are grounded in local realities while building health workers’ capacity to lead change in their communities. This is a replay of the Special Event recorded on 10 December 2024.

To end malaria, we must empower the people closest to the problem – health workers in affected communities. A special event organized by The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) in partnership with RBM Partnership to End Malaria brought together health workers from every malaria-endemic country to share firsthand experiences fighting malaria. Over 1,700 health professionals (619 francophone and 1,096 anglophone) registered for this bilingual event, which connected practitioners across language barriers from high-burden countries including Nigeria, DRC, Kenya, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon. The partnership aims to integrate community-based health workers’ insights into global malaria elimination strategies. Health workers shared powerful testimonials and practical experiences: - Impacts of extreme weather and flooding on disease transmission patterns - Growing drug resistance concerns and supply chain disruptions - Innovative community engagement strategies for prevention - Successes and challenges in vaccine introduction - Cultural barriers to early treatment seeking - Local adaptations of bed net distribution methods - Strategies for reaching remote communities, especially during floods - Special approaches for protecting pregnant women and children This enabled meaningful exchange despite geographical and technological barriers. This innovative format aimed to enable authentic exchange of practical, experiential knowledge that complements scientific expertise, guidelines and plans. The event is part of TGLF’s peer learning to action process that includes: 1. Structured pre-event knowledge sharing through targeted questions 2. Direct exchange and network building during events 3. Post-event support to turn insights into action through facilitated planning and implementation For global health funders and malaria partners, this model offers a scalable approach to strengthening elimination efforts through locally-led action. Research has shown it can accelerate implementation of new approaches by up to 7x compared to traditional methods, with particular effectiveness in fragile contexts. The special event also demonstrated how digital platforms can enable meaningful practitioner exchange at scale. By connecting those closest to the challenges with those shaping global strategy, such exchanges help ensure malaria elimination efforts are grounded in local realities while building health workers’ capacity to lead change in their communities. This is the English-language recording of the Special Event recorded on 10 December 2024.

Join us for the live stream of Teach to Reach 11's morning sessions on December 5, 2024, where over 23,000 health professionals from 70+ countries come together to share experiences and drive positive change in global health. Request your invitation: https://www.learning.foundation/teachtoreach Need the direct link to join Teach to Reach 11? Visit: https://bit.ly/TeachToReach11 Why participate in Teach to Reach? Follow this link https://redasadki.me/2024/10/03/why-participate-in-teach-to-reach-11/ Whether you are a community health worker, program manager, or global health professional, these sessions offer valuable perspectives on tackling today's most urgent health challenges through collaborative learning and local action. This stream is for the English session on Thursday morning. While you cannot participate directly in the networking, you can share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Our team reads all comments and will incorporate your insights into the ongoing discussions. Stay tuned for another live stream in the afternoon featuring sessions on immunization, malaria prevention, and climate change impacts on health.

Join us for the live stream of Teach to Reach 11's afternoon sessions on December 5, 2024. Schedule (all times UTC+1): 13:00-13:45 - Nigeria Immunization Agenda 2030 Collaborative 14:00-14:30 - Preview: Health workers unite to end malaria 14:30-15:30 - Climate change and Health 15:30-16:30 - Networking Session Request your invitation: https://www.learning.foundation/teachtoreach Need the direct link to join Teach to Reach 11? Visit: https://bit.ly/TeachToReach11 Why participate in Teach to Reach? Follow this link https://redasadki.me/2024/10/03/why-participate-in-teach-to-reach-11/ Whether you are a community health worker, program manager, or global health professional, these sessions offer valuable perspectives on tackling today's most urgent health challenges through collaborative learning and local action. This stream is for the English session on Thursday afternoon. While you cannot participate directly in the networking, you can share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Our team reads all comments and will incorporate your insights into the ongoing discussions. If you missed the morning sessions, you can find recordings on our channel. Stay engaged with health professionals from over 70 countries as we work together to strengthen local health systems and drive positive change in our communities.

Ahead of Teach to Reach 11, you are invited to join REACH, the new network for leaders of local government health agencies and civil society organizations. This REACH session is open to everyone. It will include: 1. an information briefing and 2. a networking session to meet fellow REACH leaders from other countries. Learn more about REACH: New leadership network connects health organizations tackling common challenges https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-leadership-network-connects-health-organizations-zymoe/ To join the REACH network, your organization will need to become a Teach to Reach Partner. Instructions on how to become a Partner will be shared during the session. You are welcome to share this opportunity with other organizations that are working for the good of your community.

Health Workers From 70+ Countries Connect to Share Solutions at Teach to Reach 11 Over 24,550 health professionals gathered virtually on December 5, 2024, for the opening of Teach to Reach 11, marking significant growth from the 21,398 participants who attended the previous session in June. The peer learning platform connects health workers across borders to share practical solutions to pressing health challenges. "I learned that if I look inwards, I can find ways to address challenges without waiting for donors or government," said Professor Beckie Tagbo from Nigeria's University Teaching Hospital. "You can actually use minimal resources to address challenges. It has led me to address several challenges in my place of work, including vaccine hesitancy." The opening session highlighted how climate change is altering disease patterns in unexpected ways. "Unlike previous years, malaria now occurs throughout the year, not just during peak periods," reported Grace Longway, a government health worker from Zambia. "With global warming, we're seeing malaria cases consistently rather than seasonally." Local organizations are bringing substantial teams to participate, demonstrating the platform's growing influence at the community level. "Nine of our staff have already signed in this morning," said Nduka Ozo, executive director of the Center for HIV/AIDS and STD Research in Nigeria. "When you hear from different participants from the field, you'll be able to know what they are doing rightly or wrongly, especially as we are working in the grassroots." The conference structure reflects a shift from traditional top-down approaches. Before the main event, participants shared their experiences through targeted questions, creating a foundation for practical, solution-focused discussions. The agenda includes sessions on malaria prevention, climate health risks, and immunization programs. Boma Otobo, a state facilitator in Nigeria, raised two critical challenges facing health workers: "First, how do we involve the private sector, given that funding from the public sector is reducing? Second, how do we handle health worker fatigue? A lot of health workers are breaking down, going from one program to the other." Started in January 2021 with 300 health professionals preparing for COVID-19 vaccination, Teach to Reach has grown into a global platform where 80% of participants work at district and facility levels. Half are government workers, and one in five work in areas affected by armed conflict. The two-day event features plenary sessions, workshops led by partners and experts, and one-on-one networking opportunities. Participants can earn certification as Teach to Reach contributors, and their shared experiences inform a growing knowledge base for health workers worldwide. A special follow-up session on malaria is scheduled for December 10, in partnership with RBM Partnership to End Malaria, reflecting the platform's expansion beyond its original immunization focus to address broader health challenges affecting local communities.

# REACH network connects health leaders to share malaria experiences The Geneva Learning Foundation hosted its second English-language REACH session on November 20, 2024, connecting health leaders from 45 countries to share frontline malaria experiences. The session highlighted a new partnership between RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Teach to Reach. Request your invitation for Teach to Reach: https://www.learning.foundation/teachtoreach Special Event on malaria: Health professionals can request invitations at https://www.learning.foundation/malaria ## Global partnership targets malaria "To end malaria, we must empower the people closest to the problem - health workers in affected communities," said Antonio Pizzuto, Partnership Manager at RBM. "This partnership allows us to listen to and learn from those on the frontlines of malaria control, ensuring their voices drive our global strategies." ## What is REACH? REACH is a new component of Teach to Reach, the global platform to meet, network, and learn. The initiative, designed specifically for organizational leaders, offers: 1. Special networking opportunities for leaders 2. One-on-one meetings 3. Dedicated communication channels ## Session format Leaders met in virtual breakout rooms of 4-5 participants for focused discussions about malaria prevention, treatment access, and community engagement. Through structured sharing of experiences, participants explored common challenges and local solutions. ## Implementation challenges surface WHO's Ajai Patience in Nigeria described creative responses when mosquito nets were being repurposed: "For the mosquito nets, majority of them, mostly those who don't come to hospital regularly, use it to do their fish ponds. Some use it to do their vegetables." Her team developed targeted education during antenatal care: "We try to make them understand the importance of not having malaria in pregnancy... we visit them in the communities to see what they are doing." Professor Beckie Tagbo from Nigeria's University Teaching Hospital highlighted critical gaps in severe malaria treatment: "He works in a primary health care center unable to treat severe malaria. Patients must travel 60-70 kilometers to higher centers for treatment, and some lack the funds." In Kenya, Community Health Worker Taphurother Mutange shared their systematic outreach approach: "We have been subdivided into units as health workers. I've been given 100 households I visit every week. When they have problems or are sick, I refer them." WHO Public Health Specialist Mersha Gorfu in Ethiopia noted changing disease patterns: "Unlike previous years, malaria now occurs in high altitude areas and in patients who have no travel history." ## Who attended? The session connected 169 health leaders representing: Organization types: - Civil Society Organizations (32%) - Government agencies including ministries of health (28%) - Other non-profit organizations (21%) - Educational institutions (11%) - International agencies (8%) Health system levels: - Community level (29%) - National level (26%) - District level (22%) - Regional level (15%) - International level (8%) Geographic representation with countries with highest number of participants: - West Africa (44%): Nigeria, Ghana - East Africa (31%): Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania - Southern Africa (12%): Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana - Asia (8%): India, Pakistan, Yemen - Europe and Americas (5%): United States, United Kingdom, Canada 52% were first-time participants in REACH, while 48% had previously participated in Teach to Reach programs. ## Looking ahead This session builds momentum toward: 1. The next REACH session on November 27 focusing on climate and health with Grand Challenges Canada 2. Teach to Reach 11 in English on December 5 3. A special special event on malaria on December 10 Health professionals can request invitations at https://www.learning.foundation/malaria The initiative aims to complement existing technical forums by connecting implementation experience across levels of the health system, creating opportunities for practical learning between peers facing similar challenges in different contexts.