Three Lessons from Brazil’s Public-Nonprofit Collaboration to Strengthen Public Health

In Pacoti, Ceará, Brazil, Maria de Souza, had gone 21 years without a cervical cancer exam.

Luckily, her care gap was flagged, by ImpulsoGov (Health Solver ’25), a nonprofit that works with local governments to improve public health management by adding technology to daily routine at health care units so data can be more strategically used by professionals.  

The team engaged her during a routine visit and ensured she received screening. She shared, “I’ve always been a woman who likes to take good care of myself… I went in to renew a prescription, and they insisted I get the exam. I’ve always wanted to be a prepared woman in everything, so there was no reason to say ‘I won’t go.’ So I went and did it!”

Across the world, public health managers face similar challenges: insufficient data capacity, limited technical support, and difficulties translating information into action. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health has recently formalized a partnership with ImpulsoGov.

The Ministry of Health and ImpulsoGov partnership aims to help solve these challenges. ImpulsoGov already works with more than ImpulsoGov has already worked with 420 cities in 25 states, helping public health teams understand their data, improve workflows, and act based on evidence. In many cities, this means a local manager can finally monitor indicators clearly, identify risks early, and intervene before problems escalate.

One of ImpulsoGov’s flagship solutions, for example, enables public health professionals to identify women in specific neighborhoods who have not undergone cervical cancer screening—a disease that claims one life every two hours in Brazil—and pinpoints the healthcare teams responsible for reaching them.

For countries looking for practical ways to strengthen public health management despite limited resources, Brazil’s experience offers valuable insights. Here are three lessons from the Ministry of Health’s collaboration with ImpulsoGov that countries around the world can learn from.

1. Trust is an investment that pays off
   For years, ImpulsoGov has worked directly with local governments in Brazil. The federal partnership now transforms years of collaboration into a national opportunity. It strengthens trust in the tools and provides the legitimacy needed to incorporate them into everyday public management.
   
   As cofounder João Abreu notes, the new phase “legitimizes a path built on trust, results, and a shared purpose: strengthening the health system through the intelligent use of data and technology. 

2. You don’t need high-cost technology to transform public health
   Brazil’s collaboration offers a model for countries with limited resources: targeted digital tools + strategic partnerships can strengthen public management at scale.
   
   Many Global South nations face similar constraints—vast geography, uneven local capacity, and tight budgets. Brazil’s example shows that when governments and nonprofits co-design low-cost, high-impact tools, they can improve service delivery for millions.

3. Data doesn’t generate change: people do
   Globally, public health managers face similar obstacles: fragmented information, lack of technical staff, and limited ability to monitor indicators in real time. This partnership directly addresses this by giving local teams practical tools — not just dashboards.
   
   Impulso Previne, ImpulsoGov’s flagship product, supports frontline professionals across Brazil’s public health system. It can also include an automated WhatsApp messaging feature that reminds community members about overdue appointments or exams they need to keep up with their care.

A model worth watching

The Brazil and ImpulsoGov partnership is more than a case study; it is a reminder that innovation does not require high-cost solutions. When governments and nonprofits work together with trust and purpose, they can create tools that amplify the work of professionals and improve care for millions.

This lesson resonates far beyond Brazil: collaboration can be the key to transforming public health, even in the most challenging contexts.