dr_raj_panjabi

A physician from Sierra Leone leading global healthcare innovation through community-based systems in low-resource settings.

Pioneering Healthcare Access

Raj Panjabi, born in Sierra Leone in 1979, founded Last Mile Health in 2007. By 2019, the organization had trained 3,000+ community health workers in Liberia, delivering primary care to 1M+ people. His 'Community Health Worker Model' reduced maternal mortality rates by 40% in Grand Bassa County.

Global Health Leadership

Panjabi's partnership with the WHO in 2015 expanded the model to Mozambique and Malawi. In 2018, his team developed the first digital health tool for Ebola response, used by 15,000+ health workers. His 2019 TED Talk 'How to Bring Health Care to the Hardest Places' has 3M+ views, advocating for universal health coverage.

Awards and Impact

His 2019 MacArthur 'Genius Grant' recognized innovations in last-mile healthcare systems. Panjabi's work inspired the WHO's 2020 Global Strategy on Health Workforce, emphasizing community-based care. By 2020, Last Mile Health's programs reduced child mortality rates by 30% in target regions.