The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted traditional models of health education volunteering, necessitating a rapid shift from in-person engagement to digital platforms. This study examines the transformation of Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) programs, exploring how online volunteering became a strategic tool for capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries. Through an in-depth analysis of HVO’s experiences during and after the pandemic, the study highlights the effectiveness, challenges, and opportunities of virtual mentorship, training, and collaborative health education. Findings reveal that while digital volunteering cannot entirely replace face-to-face interaction, it offers scalable, flexible, and innovative approaches to global health workforce development. The research underscores the need for sustainable digital infrastructure, culturally sensitive program design, and strategic engagement to ensure meaningful global health partnerships in a post-COVID world.
Fatima Sani Dr. Abdullahi (Fri,) studied this question.