Where We Work | Program
Supply Chain Professionalization
VillageReach believes a high-performing public health supply chain requires a professionalized workforce.
Africa: How To Stop the Health Worker Brain Drain in Africa?
This year the World Health Organization added 37 African countries to a list of nations at risk of facing worsening health worker shortages due to “brain drain” – a well-documented phenomenon of health workers emigrating to work in high-income countries like the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Africa: How To Stop the Health Worker Brain Drain in Africa? Invest in People and Innovations
This year the World Health Organization added 37 African countries to a list of nations at risk of facing worsening health worker shortages due to “brain drain” – a well-documented phenomenon of health workers emigrating to work in high-income countries like the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Saving Lives by Building Skills and Capacity in Healthcare Supply Chains
Poor supply chains in low to middle income countries are the reason that one third of the world’s population lacks access to medicines, Dr Andrew Brown of USAID Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program told delegates at the 2023 SAPICS Conference in Cape...
The CHA Kit: Ensuring Liberia’s Community Health Workers Have the Commodities They Need
There is a Liberian adage that says, “Water can’t pass by a hole.” Unfortunately, in providing Community health workers (CHWs) the essential medicines and health commodities they need to do their jobs, we still encounter many systemic “holes”. The “water” can’t pass by, and...
Olivier Defawe and Tiwonge Mkandawire on “Supply Chain Now” Podcast
Supply chain management is a crucial aspect of saving lives, as it ensures the efficient flow of essential goods and services. Nowhere is this more evident and more evolving than on the continent of Africa. In this first episode of a three-part series, Olivier...
Dans la quête de l’amélioration du système de transport des échantillons polio en République Démocratique du Congo
Read English version here. Une fois que des cas suspects de poliomyélite sont identifiés dans la communauté, qui se présente par une paralysie brusque des bras ou des jambes, une course contre la montre commence. Emmanuel Amuri est Chef d’Agence de LOGISTIQUExpress, une agence...
Flying with Innovation - The Case for Drones at SAPICS 2023
To get health products to people when and where they need them, sometimes we need to think outside of the box. It might be better to even say we need to fly outside the box through innovation, particularly through the use of drones. Integrating...
Health a priority at SAPICS 2023
For the first time this year’s SAPICS conference featured a public health supply chain track, offering development agencies, donor organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) the chance to discuss strategies to reach Agenda 2030 and universal health coverage with private sector supply chain partners.
The quest to improve polio specimen transport in the Democratic Republic of Congo
See French version here. Once suspected cases of poliomyelitis, which presents as sudden paralysis of the arms or legs, are identified in the community, a race against time begins. Emmanuel Amuri is Head of Branch at LOGISTIQUExpress, a company specializing in the transport of...
Professionalisation centre stage at SAPICS
Workforce development touted as one of the keys to unlocking access to medicines “A third of countries don’t have access to medicines and one reason is the lack of supply chain professionals,” said Management Science for Health’s Andrew Brown as he opened the session Getting...
Forging new partnerships to reorient health systems to primary health care in Africa
As Dr Tedros, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and world leaders gathered in Geneva this May for the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA), the imperative remained to ensure that countries strengthen health care systems, deliver on the commitments of Sustainable Development Goal...
A New Digital Solution to Support Liberia’s Community Health Workers
I looked over the edge of the bridge and then back to my team. Looking at the faces of my colleagues, it was clear they would prefer to turn back. Who could blame them? We had been traveling for hours through rough rainforest terrain...
A Journey for Self-Reliance: The Calling of a Pharmacist
Prior to finding his calling as a pharmacist, Lloyd Matowe wanted to become a doctor. He had the privilege of enrolling at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare for its medical program, but after several courses realized that being a doctor was not something...
Responsive Primary Health Care Takes Center Stage at AHAIC 2023
“What could the future of African health care look like?” Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Acting Director of the Africa CDC, asked during the opening plenary of the African Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2023, “Re-envisioning the future now – it is not easy to...
COVID accelerating investments reshaping health supply chains
The pandemic disrupted supply chains around the world. In its wake, health leaders are doubling down on efforts to make their supply chains more resilient, sustainable, responsive, and equitable.Background
VillageReach builds public health supply chains to be equitable, people-centered, resilient and sustainable. Managing a high-performing supply chain with these attributes requires a professional supply chain workforce.
We define this professionalization as the standardization and institutionalization of national supply chain roles, competencies and training and certification requirements. The ultimate goal of our supply chain professionalization efforts are to create a sustainable pipeline of locally, adequately trained supply chain professionals
Supply chain professionalization requires government stewardship and multisectoral partnership in order to strengthen a country’s supply chain and ensure consistent access to quality health care.
Resources
Building a Pipeline of Supply Chain Professionals through Education: Malawi
Girls on the Move Program Factsheet
Getting Started with Supply Chain Professionalization Video Presentation
Getting Started with Supply Chain Professionalization Graphic
Supply Chain Professionalization
Professionalizing the Supply Chain Workforce
Partners
Government
- DRC Ministry of Health
- Mozambique Ministry of Health
- Malawi Ministry of Health
- Liberia Ministry of Health
Donors
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Related Global Impact
See the latest updates from our work to improve access to quality healthcare in the world’s most underserved communities.