Gente Saludable

Nowadays the phrase digital transformation sparks either enthusiasm or cynicism, and either reaction can be backed by well-known successes or failures. In truth, by digital transformation we don’t just mean technology, but rather something much more complex: our ability to transform processes and work cultures in a way that truly adds value to the technology we offer for the members of our communities.

In the urban slums of Bangladesh, BRAC Manoshi, a community-based maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) initiative driven by community health workers (CHWs), conducts home visits to detect, prevent, and treat complications during pregnancy.

Have you ever been given a pet? If so, you didn’t have to pay for it, but its food and veterinary bills probably cost a lot. Using open source solutions in health is similar. It is incredible to be able to go online and find open source solutions for medical records, hospital management, telemedicine, and clinical diagnosis assistance, among other tools, by just downloading the code without also needing to pay for a license.

Health at the service of citizens, modern, agile, at low-cost and accessible to people. Is this a luxury only developed countries can afford? Imagine the possibility of the internet giving you access to your medical history; allowing you to administer your pharmacological treatments with an electronic prescription; allowing you to schedule a medical appointment without having to go to the health center, or even letting you know the estimated wait time for a specialty appointment or surgery.

Latin America and the Caribbean is aging at a rapid pace. Today, 11% of the population is over 60 years old. By 2035, the proportion of older adults will have doubled. This phenomenon implies greater care needs for a larger population of older adults facing dependency. This means some people will have difficulty performing basic daily life activities such as bathing, eating, or getting out of bed. Moreover, in many cases people will face additional health challenges due to the increase in chronic diseases.

Latin America and the Caribbean is aging at an unprecedented rate. In 1960, 3.8% of the population was over 65 years old. By 2015, this percentage had increased to 7.2% and it is expected that by 2040 it will be 14.4%. That is, in 30 years, the population of older adults will double.

Some Latin American and Caribbean countries face certain socio-political conditions that hinder people’s ability to live in a healthy environment and access health services that meet their needs. In addition, countries in the region face important challenges to improve quality, equity and results in health due, in part, to limits on financial resources, infrastructure and a qualified health workforce.

Questions we may ask ourselves as we age might include: who’s going to care for us? How will we afford that care? Will we become a burden for our loved ones? Should we spare them and explore retirement home options? None of these questions are easy. They’re especially difficult in societies where people tend to feel more alienated. But in some cultures, where family ties are strong, the dynamics of care may be clearer even despite the challenges in aging.

We all have an elderly relative, friend or neighbor who requires additional support. Sometimes, we may even have to decide whether sending them to a retirement home is the right thing to do. But we know little about conditions in these places. Oftentimes, the institutionalized end up being invisible and vulnerable.