The Geneva Learning Foundation

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.

# REACH for Leaders: Building a global network of locally-led health organization leaders

To join the REACH network, request your invitation for Teach to Reach https://www.learning.foundation/teachtoreach

On 6 November 2024, The Geneva Learning Foundation hosted its first REACH (Relate, Engage, Act, Connect, Help) session for organizational leaders, marking a new initiative within the Teach to Reach program. The session brought together 333 leaders from health organizations worldwide to network, share challenges, and exchange solutions ahead of Teach to Reach 11.

## 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 highlights

The session introduced an innovative format where leaders could meet in small groups to share experiences and challenges. Dr. Thompson Igbu, WHO Team Lead for EPI in Sierra Leone, shared a powerful example of the value of these exchanges: “I engaged with a colleague from northern Ghana, where we discussed particularly the issues of climate change and how it is impacting health generally... Initially, it looked a little bit not too clear, but when you connect the dots, you realize that climate change actually is affecting health and by indication, also affecting immunization in some parts of the world.”

## Impact and participant feedback

The session demonstrated the power of peer learning and networking. As Fatima Zahra Obokorotaru, Public Health Educator from Nigeria, observed: “Whatever it is, you learn that you are not alone struggling in it and you get to meet others that have better experiences than you, and that also exposes you to learn from them.”

## Looking ahead to Teach to Reach 11

The REACH sessions are a preview of expanded networking opportunities at Teach to Reach 11, scheduled for December 5-6, 2024. The programme has seen remarkable growth, with over 23,000 health practitioners already registered for the upcoming session, compared to 21,398 participants in Teach to Reach 10.

Antonio Pizzuto, Partnership Manager at RBM Partnership to End Malaria, emphasized the value of this collaboration: “We believe that through coordinated action, advocacy, and resource mobilization, we are driving forward all the initiatives that aim at eradicating this disease from our planet.”

## Benefits for organizational leaders

REACH offers leaders unique opportunities to:

1. Connect with peers facing similar challenges

2. Share and learn from diverse experiences

3. Build lasting professional relationships

4. Access a global network of health professionals

5. Contribute to and learn from collective expertise

## Who attended REACH?

The inaugural REACH for Leaders sessions brought together 333 health organization leaders from 45 countries.

The initiative attracted diverse health professionals, from executive directors and medical chiefs to epidemiologists and community health workers.

The gender distribution showed 38% women and 62% men among participants.

73% of attendees had previously participated in Teach to Reach programs, while 27% were first-time participants.

## What types of organizations participated?

Civil Society Organizations represented 31% of participants, with government agencies accounting for 27% and other non-profit organizations comprising 22%.

Organizations represented multiple levels of the health system: 28% at community level, 26% at national level, 23% at district level, 15% at regional level, and 8% at international level.

## What countries are participating?

Regional distribution showed West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo) contributing 41% of participants.

Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon) followed with 28% of attendees.

East Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) represented 18% of participants.

Asia (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Philippines, Tajikistan) accounted for 6% of attendance.

European participation (Azerbaijan, Belgium, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Spain, Switzerland) stood at 3%.

The Americas (Canada, El Salvador, Haiti, Peru) contributed 2% of participants.