Health 2 Go (H2Go) is a program that provides quality basic health services to rural and other underserved communities using a distributed delivery model operated by local residents trained as community health workers. The program is currently operating in Ghana and making a significant impact. The H2Go team is looking at expansion into new communities in Ghana. With all the talk of expansion, we wanted to hear from another key on-the-ground team member about what it takes to run the program and some of the challenges it faces as it grows. We connected with Moselle Brown, the H2Go Program Coordinator, to gain insights into the logistics and the promising future of the program.
Interviewer: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you became the H2Go program coordinator?
Moselle Brown (MB): My first degree is in physician assistantship from Central University, located at Miotso, outside Accra city but within the Greater Accra region of Ghana. I worked in a couple of health facilities in rural areas, focusing on public health and preventive medicine. I decided to pursue a master’s degree in public health and completed my degree at Ensign Global College, where I was introduced to the H2Go program and volunteered with them. After completing my master’s program, I worked in Accra as a public health research intern for a public health organization. I was then recruited as a research manager, focusing on data collection for H2Go research, before transitioning to a full-time position with H2Go in December 2023.
Interviewer: What are your primary responsibilities as the program coordinator for H2Go?
MB: I facilitate logistics for the Wawase and Barekuma Collaborative Community Development Project (BCCDP), a collaborative partnership between 20 rural Ghanaian communities in the Barekese sub-district near Kumasi, Ghana, sites and prepare for expansion. I conduct routine data collection from both sites and assist in organizing refresher training for the Community-Based Agents (CBAs).
Interviewer: Is it a challenge not speaking the local dialects, and what are some of the other main challenges you face in implementing the H2Go program?
MB: While I don’t speak all of the local dialects, the supervisors and managers who do speak them help bridge the gap with language barriers. Additionally, we require all CBAs to be able to read and write in English to be hired by our program.
The number one challenge is the condition of the roads leading to the communities. They are in very bad shape, and there’s a constant fear that the vehicle might break down. Better vehicles, like trucks, would ensure no lapses in supportive supervision visits to these more rural communities.
Interviewer: Can you share any specific success stories or positive outcomes from the H2Go program that stand out to you?
MB: On a visit to one of the communities at the BCCDP site, I met one of the CBAs who was really excited to make an impact in their community. He gained more recognition and respect through the H2Go program and learned a lot about his own children’s health, specifically regarding malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia.
Interviewer: What role does the Ghanaian government play in supporting the H2Go program?
MB: This partnership is very important as it is the first of its kind to train residents to care for families in their own communities. The program is gaining more popularity and recognition, creating avenues for other organizations to partner with us and bring more stakeholders on board. This will enable more funding. The government can contribute needed resources, work with medicine companies to reach children in rural areas, and provide vehicles for the monthly site visits.
Interviewer: What are some of the future goals or expansions planned for the H2Go program?
MB: H2Go plans to extend to different regions of Ghana and even globally to countries with rural health care needs.
Interviewer: Are there any challenges with expansion?
MB: One challenge is the potential fallout with the workforce. We have very committed CBAs now, but with expansion, we are more likely to see a younger workforce that may move on, requiring retraining and posing retention issues.
Interviewer: How do you engage with the local communities to ensure their needs are being met through the H2Go program?
MB: I always talk to CBAs about their questions and concerns during monthly supportive supervision visits. After getting onboarded, I facilitated a smoother equipment replacement process and have replaced the majority of our CBAs’ equipment over the past few months. This has significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of their work. The main concern voiced by the communities is raising the age limit from 0-5 to 0-10 years, which unfortunately isn’t possible for the program to implement at this point.
Interviewer: What motivates you personally to be involved with the H2Go program?
MB: I love the idea of H2Go making an impact on children under 5 and families in rural communities. I enjoy seeing residents making an impact by serving as CBAs in their communities. I am also motivated by the decline in malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea cases in facilities. H2Go makes resources available to CBAs to assist them through regular supportive supervision visits and training. Other programs lack the resources to operate in their communities, often relying on mobile vans for one-time health visits without follow-up.
Interviewer: Any last thoughts?
MB: I want to get more partners on board to expand into more rural areas in different parts of Ghana. I am excited to see this expansion happen.