Health products and lab services
when and where they are needed
Products to People
For over twenty-five years, we have worked with national and local governments, communities and the private sector across Africa to improve access to quality health products (medicines, vaccines, medical supplies and prevention products) by building systems that deliver. Our experience in supply chain and pharmaceutical management enables us to ensure equitable, resilient and responsive access to essential health products at all levels of the health system, all the way to the last mile.
We also implement digital health information systems to improve end-to-end visibility into medical product data and support health workers, including supply chain managers, pharmacy staff, lab technicians, surveillance officers and community health workers , to provide better care for all.
Resources
Access to Health Products Strategy 2025-2030
VILLAGEREACH CAPABILITIES: Supply Chain & Pharmaceutical Care
VILLAGEREACH CAPABILITIES: Epidemic Preparedness & Response
Strengthening Supply Chains: Optimize, Integrate and Sustain
Our Access to Health Products Strategy focuses on three interconnected domains—Optimize, Integrate and Sustain—that shape how we strengthen public health supply chains, pharmaceutical services and disease diagnosis for all patients. Together, these functions reflect an efficient and practical systems-oriented approach that delivers lasting, equitable impact, all the way to the last mile.
Our Expertise
- Supply Chain Strategy
- Data-Driven Planning
- Operational Performance & Logistics
- Rational Use of Health Products
VillageReach advises governments on comprehensive solutions for their public health supply chains, private sector partnerships, innovative financing models and supply chain risk management and resilience.
VillageReach offers services in forecasting and supply planning, integrated digital solutions, the cold chain ecosystem, supply chain technical assessments and process/impact evaluations.
VillageReach has expertise in inventory and stock management, distribution and transport optimization, health and supply chain workforce development and waste reduction.
VillageReach’s pharmacists are based in countries across Africa, with expertise in prescriber training, dispensing practices, patient adherence, choice and satisfaction, and able to advise on early access and introduction of new products and technologies.
Strengthening Supply Chains Resources
From Disruption to System Strengthening: How Government Leadership and Adapted Transport Solutions Sustained Family Planning Commodity Availability in Mozambique
VILLAGEREACH CAPABILITIES: Epidemic Preparedness & Response
Closing the Gender Gap: Community-Driven Solutions to Boost Women’s Use of National Health Hotlines
A Case Study Series – Evidence and guidance for advancing integration across health procurement and supply chains
Scaling What Works: Policy Pathways for Stronger Health Supply Chains in Africa
Electronic Vaccine Logistics System (SELV)
Mozambique Family Planning Emergency Distribution Project
Building Responsive, Integrated Health Supply Chains in Africa: Achievements and Lessons from the Supply Chain Integrators Investment
Immunization Supply Chain (iSC) Supportive Supervision Tool
Measuring the impact of integrating private distributors in public health supply chains
Strengthening Community Health Supply Chains in Kenya
Educational Pathways for a Skilled Supply Chain Workforce
VILLAGEREACH CAPABILITIES: Supply Chain & Pharmaceutical Care
Access to Health Products Strategy 2025-2030
Higher Institute of Health Sciences – Healthcare Logistics Management (Bachelor Degree Program)
The Immunization Supply Chain
VillageReach brings deep expertise in immunization supply chain (iSC) strengthening that are adapted to people’s needs. We partner with governments to design, implement, and institutionalize innovative, data-driven supply chain solutions that improve vaccine availability, cold chain functionality, and equity of service delivery. VillageReach has been a member of Gavi Immunization Supply Chain Steering Committee (iSC2) since 2018, and contributed to the iSC strategy for Gavi 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0. We also contribute to global forums and technical bodies, such TechNet-21, shaping strategy and advancing best practices in immunization supply chains.
Our Expertise
- Data Visibility & Use
- Forecasting and Supply Planning
- Distribution & Storage
- Cold Chain
- HRH Capacity
- Waste Management
Implement electronic logistics management information systems (eLMIS) and data use practices for timely actionable data for decision-making.
Implement evidence-based forecasting and supply planning (FSP) practices with data triangulation of supply chain and service delivery data to improve forecasting and supply management.
Design and deploy last mile delivery systems, include level-skipping and direct delivery, that ensure vaccines are consistently available, potent and equitably delivered. Deploy integrated transportation for cost-efficiency and improving availability.
Strengthen cold chain systems by leveraging data for cold chain equipment (CCE) maintenance, deploying remote temperature monitoring devices and deploying mobile CCE devices (like indigos) to improve vaccination coverage.
Establish and run National Logistics Working Groups (NLWG) and strengthen workforce capacity through supportive supervision, implementation of Strategic Training Executive Programs (STEP) and innovative learning methods with instructional design and gender intentional approach.
Implement practices and systems that reduce waste, improve efficiency, mitigate impact on climate, to support safe handling and disposal of vaccines and related commodities.
Immunization Supply Chain Resources
Closing the 9-Month Immunization Gap: Cross-Country Findings
Stakeholder Perspectives on Shifting Measles Vaccination (MCV1) to 6 Months
Closing the 9-Month Immunization Gap: Nigeria
Closing the 9-Month Immunization Gap: Pakistan
Closing the 9-Month Immunization Gap: Malawi
Closing the 9-Month Immunization Gap: DRC
Immunization Supply Chain (iSC) Supportive Supervision Tool
Identifying context- specific drivers of routine childhood immunisation dropout in Mozambique and Malawi: a secondary thematic analysis of qualitative community- based participatory research data
Elevating CHWs’ Role in Immunization – The Key to Equitable Access and Increased Demand
Peer-to-Peer Learning to Improve HPV Vaccine Coverage: Nigeria Progress Update (October 2025)
From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Facility-Level Waste Management in Côte d’Ivoire and the DRC
Study of the Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) of Malaria Vaccination in Mozambique
Technical Brief – Designing a Smarter Cold Chain System in Malawi
iSC Digital Supportive Supervision Tool Package
Understanding Immunization Access Barriers in Northern Nigeria: An Equity Guide Case Study
Community-Level Supply Chains
For many people living in remote areas in Africa community health workers (CHWs) are their only touchpoint with the public health system. CHWs are critical to achieving health care for all in a cost-effective manner, but first they must be equipped with the health products they need to serve their communities. VillageReach works with governments and communities to design supply chain solutions that focus on CHW needs, and work to integrate them into national supply chain planning and implementation.
Community-Level Supply Chains Resources
Impact of Mobile Integrated Health Programs
How Telehealth Hotlines and Kiosks Improved Access to Care in Lagos, Nigeria
Closing the Gender Gap: Community-Driven Solutions to Boost Women’s Use of National Health Hotlines
A Case Study Series – Evidence and guidance for advancing integration across health procurement and supply chains
Community Health Workers at the Center of Mozambique’s 2026 Health Reform
Factors That Contribute to Contraceptive Stockout Rates in Nigerian Health Facilities
Strengthening Community Health Supply Chains in Kenya
ASSESSMENT: Regional Community Health Assessment – Washington State Olympic Region
STRATEGIC PLAN: Marion County Health & Human Services 2026-2030
Identifying context- specific drivers of routine childhood immunisation dropout in Mozambique and Malawi: a secondary thematic analysis of qualitative community- based participatory research data
Digitally Enabled Community Health for Universal Health Coverage
Learning as a missing component of digital health, environment and climate change
Elevating CHWs’ Role in Immunization – The Key to Equitable Access and Increased Demand
Community Health Impact Coalition Evidence Brief
African Solutions, Global Impact: Pathways for Resilience Through UbuntuPlus
Private Sector Partnerships
In collaboration with governments and the private sector VillageReach improved access to health products and vaccines through private sector drone transport. From 2018 to 2024 VillageReach used drone transport in Malawi, DRC and Mozambique to improve access to lifesaving medicines, vaccines, medical supplies and lab tests in remote areas, and to increase supply chains responsiveness to health emergencies and disease outbreaks. Through our Drones for Health program implementations, we learned drones can play a critical role in reaching geographically challenging areas quickly, both routinely and on-demand.
VillageReach continues to offer technical assistance to governments and their partners interested in exploring and scaling drone transport.
Our Technical Assistance
- Strategy & Set-up
- Implementation
- Verification
- Market Access
Strategy & Set-up
- Socialize solution with relevant government authorities and local private sector players
- Develop strategy, conduct advocacy & fundraising, Identify use case(s)
- Evaluate opportunity, potential challenges and mitigation actions
- Prepare start-up implementation plan & toolkit
Implementation
- Assist in navigating regulatory bodies to obtain mandatory authorizations
- Develop & release request for proposal
- Facilitate the selection of drone service provider
- Develop & validate the service level agreement
- Facilitate drone equipment importation
- Design drone transportation network
- Sensitize communities to the utilization of drone
- Provide initial oversight of drone transport services and/or ongoing role as liaison with relevant government ministries
Verification
- Design monitoring and evaluation approach, plan & budget
- Monitor and evaluate service against SLA
- Develop performance verification report
Market Access
- Conduct market research
- Organization of a networking event to market value of new product and/or transport service
- Advise on market entry strategy
- Facilitate development and management of MoUs/LOIs
Private Sector Partnerships Resources
From Commitment to Inclusion: Communities as Co-Architects of Africa’s Health
How Telehealth Hotlines and Kiosks Improved Access to Care in Lagos, Nigeria
Community Health Workers at the Center of Mozambique’s 2026 Health Reform
Building Responsive, Integrated Health Supply Chains in Africa: Achievements and Lessons from the Supply Chain Integrators Investment
Measuring the impact of integrating private distributors in public health supply chains
Why Funding Alone Won’t Scale Health Innovation
From Ambition to Implementation – The Use of Outsourced Transport to Deliver Polio Lab Samples
Building the Foundations for Responsive Primary Health Care: A Practical Guide for Policymakers
Newsletter- Strengthening Lab Transport to Stop Outbreaks – First Edition -2025
Policy Brief: Transforming Health Finance
Scaling Innovation: Mozambique Transport Case Study Summary
Transport Quality Management – Technical Assistance Toolkit
Private Distributors Integration into Public Health Supply Chains (PHSC) – Benchmarking Results
Outsourced Logistics Gap Assessment
Laboratory Services
Our Lab Sample Transport program plays a vital role in the global fight to eradicate polio by creating a fast and secure cold chain to deliver deliver Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) samples from remote health facilities to testing labs across 15 African countries. But our expertise goes beyond AFP sample transport. We offer the same life-saving services for other diseases as well.
Our Expertise
- End-to-End Sample Management
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Data Quality and Safety
- Capacity Building
VillageReach offers a comprehensive solution for managing samples throughout their entire journey, from collection at health facilities to transportation and storage. This includes developing standard operating procedures, training personnel, logistics contracting and procurement.
Our expertise includes procuring the necessary equipment (carriers, kits, fridges) and contracting reliable transportation options (motorcycles, drones, etc.) to ensure efficient sample movement.
VillageReach prioritizes data accuracy through training programs and implementing geolocation trackers and centralized notification systems. This ensures biosafety and biosecurity protocols are followed.
VillageReach empowers local health staff and communities through training programs, equipping them with the knowledge and skills for proper sample collection, transportation and reporting.
Laboratory Transport Resources
VILLAGEREACH CAPABILITIES: Epidemic Preparedness & Response
Rethinking Integration, Focusing on Networking and Coordination
Strengthening Lab Transport Systems to Stop Outbreaks: Program Highlights (July–December 2025)
Optimizing Lab Sample Transport for Epidemic-Prone Diseases: Speed, Integration & Sustainability, at What Cost?
VillageReach Lab Sample Transport Portfolio
Press Release – VillageReach Commences Program to Strengthen Epidemic Preparedness and Response Across Africa
Newsletter- Strengthening Lab Transport to Stop Outbreaks – First Edition -2025
On-Demand, Integrated Lab Transport Systems – Global Health Security conference (Jun 2024)
Supply Chain & Lab Sample Transport approaches at the last mile
Polio Lab Sample Transport – Data & Results from 15 countries, 30 May 2024
Polio Sample Transport on Demand – ASLM Conference (Dec 2023)
Drones for Health: Speeding up Lab Sample Transport – ASLM Conference (Dec 2023)
Digital Solutions for Efficient Lab Sample Transport – Global Digital Health Forum, Dec 2023
Technology solutions for Lab Sample Transport – ASLM Conference (Dec 2023)
