Reach Digital Health

12/12/2025

What an incredible day at the Youth Digital Health Expo 2025 yesterday!

From the team at Reach, we extend a massive thank you to everyone who made this strategic event possible. The energy and commitment to advancing the health of young people through digital innovation in South Africa was at an all-time high!

A special acknowledgment to:

🤝 Our core partners: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)UNFPA in East and Southern Africa, Girl Effect, and Shout-It-Now. Your leadership and seamless collaboration drove the strategic dialogue and we look forward to continuing this work.

🎙️ All speakers and participants: Thank you for challenging us, sharing your expertise, and engaging in the discussions on ethical AI, user-centred design, and sustainable implementation. Your insights will be synthesised into actionable frameworks for 2026.

🔬 Exhibition teams: Your innovative solutions were the heartbeat of the Expo, demonstrating the current capabilities and potential of digital SRHR technology. What a great opportunity to learn about the different work being done for youth health.

🌟 The behind-the-scenes teams: To every individual who handled the logistics, coordination, and production — thank you for your tireless work in ensuring a great event.

The work is just beginning. We are committed to translating the Expo’s core takeaways into real-world impact alongside all of you.

📢Important Note: All attendees will receive a post-event report that will outline the key insights and actionable opportunities to advance youth digital health in 2026 and beyond. Watch your inboxes in the new year for more!

11/12/2025

Our session at the Youth Digital Health Expo 2025 on Emerging Tech & AI just ended, and the consensus is clear: the future of youth digital health depends less on what technology we build, and more on how we build it and who we build it with.

Here are a few key takeaways from our speakers that are a must share!

1️⃣Technology is an enabler, not the solution
Milton Madanda, our Director of Technology, emphasised that "Technology is not the problem, it’s an enabler." The focus must shift from the novelty of the tech to its ability to genuinely solve systemic health access issues for young people.

2️⃣The power of partnerships and funding
Scaling impactful digital health is a collective effort. As Nothemba Kula from PATH shared, "Nothing hampers innovation like not having partners and funding because no one can do it alone." Building sustainable ecosystems requires cross-sector collaboration — between innovators, government, and funding partners.

3️⃣Human-centricity is non-negotiable
User Testing: Lekoetse Mahao from Genesis Analytics highlighted the necessity of rigorous user testing: "User testing is important - it can be easy to be oblivious to the blind spots when working on tech." This ensures our solutions are culturally relevant and truly useful.

Accessibility: Nokulunga Twala, also from Genesis Analytics, stressed the need to "Make tech accessible to people with low literacy levels as well." Digital equity demands that we meet all users where they are, utilising simple, low-bandwidth solutions.

4️⃣Continuous Learning & Adaptability
The journey is iterative. Wouter Vink from Dimagi reminded us that in this rapidly evolving space, "It’s difficult to know what you don’t know, so it’s important to continuously learn and be open to pivot. Also be open to being wrong."

The way forward requires humility, open collaboration, and a relentless focus on the young person at the centre of the technology.

Thank you to all our phenomenal Session 2 speakers, to our moderator Debbie Rogers and all participants for driving this important conversation!

UNFPA in South Africa, Girl Effect, Shout It Now

11/12/2025

The first coffee break is over, and we're shifting gears to the future of digital health!

Next up at the is the session we’re leading: ‘Emerging Tech & AI’.

The time for fragmented pilots is over. We are bringing together leading tech innovators to discuss how to responsibly leverage AI and new technologies to advance youth SRHR. Our focus is on moving the needle from promising innovation to policy-backed, ethical, and scalable implementation.

We look forward to hearing from Milton Madanda, Nothemba Kula, Jacqui Watson, Wouter Vink and Debbie Rogers!

Join us as we draft the responsible use frameworks that will guide AI adoption in South African health services.

UNFPA in South Africa, Girl Effect, Shout It Now

11/12/2025

11/12/2025

11/12/2025

It’s Youth Digital Health Expo 2025 day! 🎉

The room is energised, and the mission is clear: Ending fragmentation to accelerate youth digital SRHR in South Africa. We have kicked off with UNFPA in South Africa's opening session, "Framing the Future," setting the strategic tone for cross-sector collaboration. This is more than an event — it's a multi-stakeholder convening focused on generating a single, actionable roadmap for 2026 and beyond.

Today, we unite government, innovators, funders, and youth leaders to define:

🔹 Ethical AI frameworks
🔹 User-centred design principles
🔹 Sustainable financing models

We're ready to commit! What is the single most critical priority you hope to see in South Africa’s digital health roadmap for 2026?

Shout It Now, Girl Effect

Join the dialogue:

10/12/2025

FINAL 24 HOURS! Join the strategic dialogue to end fragmentation tomorrow! ⌛

This is the final call to join the multi-stakeholder convening designed to accelerate the youth digital health agenda in South Africa. This UNFPA in South Africa -led event will focus on strategic engagement and reducing working in silos.

⏰08h00 - 17h00
📍Workshop 17, Sandton, Johannesburg

If you are a policymaker, technology innovator, or implementing partner, your presence is crucial to:

➡️ Facilitate meaningful dialogue across youth SRH, mental health, and digital innovation.
➡️ Showcase and connect existing capabilities to initiate potential partnerships.
➡️ Contribute directly to the Collaborative Roadmap, integrating user-centred design and sustainable implementation frameworks for 2026 and beyond.

Registration closes soon. Secure your place: https://bit.ly/YDHE25
Interested in exhibiting your work? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/d4gsyewK

Shout It Now , Girl Effect

09/12/2025

2 DAYS TO GO: The countdown to the Youth Digital Health Expo 2025 if officially on!

This Thursday, 11 December, key stakeholders will gather to draft the actionable roadmap for South Africa's digital health future.

We are ready to lead the conversation on Ethical AI and Emerging Tech. Don't miss this key opportunity to directly contribute to the Technology Assessment and Strategic Framework that will guide implementation in 2026.

We are bringing together government, funders, innovators, and youth leaders — will you be there?

Final chance to RSVP before registration closes 🔗 https://bit.ly/YDHE25

Final chance to apply to exhibit your work 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d4gsyewK

UNFPA in South Africa, Shout It Now, Girl Effect

09/12/2025

We are gearing up to lead Session 2: Emerging Tech & AI at the Youth Digital Health Expo on Thursday, 11 December 2025! This session will focus on scaling ethical and sustainable digital solutions for sexual and reproductive health, moving beyond pilots to tangible impact.

We are proud to introduce the incredible lineup of speakers who will be sharing their expertise and driving the discussion:

🎤 Milton Madanda, our Director of Technology: Milton will kick off the discussion, sharing our perspective on leveraging technology to drive real-world health outcomes.

🎤 Nothemba Kula, Country Representative, South Africa at PATH: Nothemba will bring key insights into digital health implementation challenges and successful models in the South African context.

🎤Jacqui Watson, Digital Health Lead at Genesis Analytics: Jacqui will provide an expert view on the analytical frameworks and strategic planning necessary for successful digital health programmess.

🎤 Wouter Vink, Senior Director of Delivery at Dimagi: Wouter will share valuable expertise on technology implementation and regional leadership in the digital strategy space.

We will end the session with an informative fireside chat moderated by Debbie Rogers and with all the speakers, ensuring a deeper look into implementation challenges and responsible use frameworks.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with these thought leaders and contribute to the future of AI in Health! Further details in the post below! 👇🏽

We're excited to contribute to the Youth Digital Health Expo 2025 in partnership with UNFPA in South Africa, Girl Effect and Shout It Now on 11 December 2025 by leading a session on ‘Emerging Tech & AI’.

This is an opportunity for policymakers, funders, and innovators to move beyond fragmented pilots and discuss scalable, sustainable, and ethical digital solutions for SRH.

In this focused session, we will:

🔺Evaluate the current landscape of emerging technologies and their applications in SRH.
🔺Share real-world implementation challenges and necessary technical solutions.
🔺Draft actionable, responsible use frameworks to ensure equitable and youth-centred deployment of AI and new tech.

Join us to contribute to the technology assessment and shape the future of ethical digital innovation in South Africa.

📅 Thursday, 11 December 2025 | ⏰08h00 - 17h00 |📍Workshop 17 Sandton

RSVP here before space runs out! https://bit.ly/YDHE25

Showcase your work: https://bit.ly/YouthExpoApplication

08/12/2025

Welcome to the week of the Youth Digital Health Expo 2025, hosted by UNFPA in South Africa, us, Shout It Now and Girl Effect! The event is happening this Thursday, 11 December.

You still have some time to RSVP and secure your spot in the dialogue that will inform the national digital health roadmap for 2026.

Your input on ethical AI, implementation best practices, user-centred design and sustainable financing is critical.

Don't miss this opportunity to influence the Technology Assessment and Strategic Framework being developed.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/YDHE25

FINAL CALL FOR INNOVATION SHOWCASES: If your organisation wants to demo its youth digital SRH solution to funders and key government partners, submit your application immediately: https://bit.ly/YouthExpoApplication

05/12/2025

The Youth Digital Health Expo 2025 is next week Thursday, 11 December, and we are so excited to see you there! This event is a key convening for youth digital health in South Africa.

This is your last chance to secure your seat at the table alongside policymakers, innovators, and key implementing partners (UNFPA in South Africa, Girl Effect, Shout It Now and us).

This Expo is focused on generating immediate outputs that will inform the national strategy:

⚪ A Technology Assessment
⚪ A User-Centred Design Framework
⚪ An Implementation Toolkit

Don't miss the opportunity to contribute to the actionable roadmap and engage directly in sessions covering everything from Framing the Future to Scalability and Ethical AI use.

📅 Thursday, 11 December 2025 | ⏰08h00 - 17h00 |📍Workshop 17 Sandton

RSVP immediately, as capacity is limited: https://bit.ly/YDHE25

You can also showcase your work at the intersection of youth SRH, mental health, behaviour change, and digital innovation at the Expo: https://bit.ly/YouthExpoApplication

16/09/2025

Debbie Rogers will be in New York next week for ! We are looking forward to having her represent us on the global stage, showcasing the power of African-led innovation in digital health.

Debbie will participate in two key events:

1️⃣ African-led Innovation: Shaping Sustainable Futures with or without Aid

We will co-host this session alongside eHealth Africa, Population Services International, and the Population Council. This event will spotlight locally-driven innovations and collaborations that are strengthening health systems and shaping sustainable development across the continent.

24 September | 3–5 pm ET | NYC & Virtual (hybrid)💻

👉 Register here to join! https://luma.com/idpc8rkc

2️⃣ The Launch of Be He@lthy Be Mobile 2.0
Debbie will also join a panel discussion at the launch of Be He@lthy Be Mobile 2.0, a collaboration between us, the World Health Organization (WHO), International Telecommunication Union, and Vital Strategies. This session will explore unleashing the power of digital health solutions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

26 September | 11:30 am–12:15 pm ET | NYC & Virtual (hybrid)💻

👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ddyexTQb

Debbie would love to chat to you if you are attending hashtag in person! If you're not in NYC, feel free to reach out to her on LinkedIn to discuss the future of digital health and our work at Reach.