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.