In September, Guatemala national news outlet, Prensa Libre, published a story about the quick response of frontline health workers in the remote community of Tucurú, Alta Verapaz, which saved the life of a young malnourished child. Child malnutrition affects nearly half of all children in Guatemala, impacting their physical and mental development and putting them at risk of death.
In remote communities, like Tucurú, basic infrastructure such as roads, water, and electricity is often limited and access to health services may take hours or even days. After hearing about the quick response of frontline health workers in Tucurú, we reached out to our partners in Guatemala to learn more about Ada’s case and the potential role of Tula’s digital health project. We were happy to learn that Ada was registered in Tula’s digital health application—Kawok—which allowed health workers to monitor her condition and quickly respond when it became an emergency. Ada's case continues to be registered in Kawok, as health workers monitor her recovery back to a normal weight. We are pleased to report that during Ada's last consultation less than 10 days ago, health workers noted that her weight had returned to a normal range and health was improving.
Tula’s smartphone-based digital health ecosystem bridges health system gaps in remote communities by connecting local health teams with essential resources, real-time data, and a direct communication network. This connectivity strengthens the health system by improving patient-level care and outcomes. Tula’s project enhances coordination, even in the most isolated areas, highlighting its important roles in making sure that vulnerable children, like Ada, receive the immediate care when it matters most.
Read the original story here.
