We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Denise Singlam, a Community Health Worker (CHW) since July 2021 in the community of Kouyoria, in the Binah district of northern Togo. Denise passed away on August 16, 2026.
For those who knew Denise and for the families she cared for, her work was much more than a job. It was an expression of a deep conviction: that everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, deserves the chance to be healthy and to access quality care.
Before becoming a CHW, Denise worked in a computer center, doing data entry and photocopying. But she wanted to do something that would allow her to help the people around her. As a mother, Denise was deeply affected by seeing children in her community become sick and suffer because care was out of reach. So, when the opportunity came, she applied to become a CHW.
Denise became part of the health system bringing care closest to home. She went to families, visiting one home at a time, caring for one person at a time. She brought care, information, and support to those the health system too often struggled to reach.
Her work also carried her community through extraordinarily difficult moments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Denise was one of the courageous health workers who played a critical role in keeping essential primary care available while helping families navigate fear, uncertainty, and misinformation. At a time when showing up for others required incredible commitment, she stood alongside her community because she believed everyone deserved to be cared for.
This was the work Denise chose to do, day after day. Her colleagues at the Kouyoria health center saw that commitment firsthand.
“Denise was deeply curious about everything related to healthcare. She was passionate about health professions and was almost always present at the center. Very often, she would spontaneously volunteer to accompany the nursing staff or assist referred pregnant women, even when no one asked her to. It was her way of serving her community. Today, her absence is deeply felt. It is an immense loss for us, the staff of the Kouyoria health center.“ Essodinam Mouzou, Kouyoria’s health center manager.
“I had the privilege of collaborating with Denise from 2021 to 2025. Dynamic, curious, and deeply committed, she carried out her mission as a Community Health Worker with a true sense of service to her community. Her permanent appointment in 2025 was a recognition of that commitment. Her far too premature departure leaves an immense void. I will remember her as a woman always ready to learn, to serve, and to care for others.” Eyana Palou, Denise’s former supervisor.
These memories offer a glimpse of Denise beyond her role as a CHW: her curiosity, her willingness to help, and the care she brought to her relationships. They reflect how deeply she valued being there for others.
Those who worked alongside Denise will remember her in ways that no description of her role can fully capture. Their memories will help us tell the fuller story of the colleague, friend, mother, and community member behind the work. We already know how much caring for others mattered to her.
Her loss is felt profoundly by her fellow CHWs, by her colleagues across Integrate Health, and by the people whose lives she touched. Our thoughts are especially with her children, who were at the heart of her life and were the foundation of the commitment she brought to her work.
We are profoundly grateful for the years Denise gave to her community, for every family she accompanied, and for every child she cared for.
CHWs are sometimes described as the people who bring healthcare to the last mile. But Denise’s life reminds us that this work is ultimately about something more human: being present for another person, in their home and in their community, when care is needed.
Her absence is deeply felt.
We will remember Denise with gratitude, affection, and respect. And we will carry her commitment with us as we continue working toward the future she wanted for her community: one in which every person, every child, has the best possible chance to live a healthy life.
Thank you, Denise, for taking care of your community. We are proud to call you a colleague.