Nigeria: FG Deploys Digital Tracking, Identifies 217,000 Unvaccinated Children

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Premium Times report from Abuja, reported that Nigeria’s Federal Government has used digital tracking tools to find more than 217,000 children who had not previously received vaccinations over the past 18 months. Muyi Aina, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, disclosed the figure on Tuesday at the Insights Learning Forum 2026, eHealth Africa’s digital health conference in Abuja.

According to the report, Aina said the agency has shifted from relying only on traditional routine immunisation methods to using digital tools that monitor vaccination teams, show whether assigned communities were reached, and identify children missed by routine services. The approach began with GPS tracking of vaccination teams and has been expanded to support outreach in underserved and difficult-to-access areas.

The article also said the government is working to strengthen primary healthcare more broadly. Aina described a functional primary healthcare centre as one with adequate infrastructure, trained workers, essential equipment, dependable power and sustainable financing. He said ongoing investments are expected to raise the number of functional PHCs nationwide to about 8,800, while the agency works with state governments on more durable staffing and retention strategies amid health worker migration.

Premium Times further reported that digital financial systems, direct disbursement mechanisms, reporting platforms and electronic medical records are being introduced to improve accountability, planning and access to funds at health facilities. Yusuf Yusufari of the Gates Foundation said data, partnerships and community-focused strategies are important for reducing preventable deaths, while stressing that digital innovations should support government priorities rather than replace them.