Moshood Isah, Author at eHealth Africa

eHealth Africa, Sokoto Govt Collaborate to Deliver Vaccine to Remote, Vulnerable Locations

Posted on August 31, 2023August 23, 2024 by Moshood Isah

Easy access to the land borders in north-east and north-west zones, particularly Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina states has remained a key source of criminality and violent crimes in these parts of the country. As at 2022, 137 out of about 261 borders in the north-east and north-west regions of the country were unguarded as revealed by former chief of Army Staff, Lucky Irabor.

Sokoto State which shares borders with the Niger Republic has battled varying degrees of insecurity relating to kidnapping, cattle rustling and banditry in recent years. Areas primarily affected include Isa, Sabon Birni, Gwadabawa, Illela, Tangaza, and Goronyo. They contribute to a total of 65 out of the 240 wards in the state. Beyond security challenges, hard to reach areas, unavailability of vaccines, unfavorable weather conditions and vaccine hesitancy due to religious beliefs largely contributed to low immunization coverage rates in Nigeria and most inequitable in the world according to United States Agency for International Development (USAID). As of 2018, vaccination rates in Sokoto state were among the lowest in Nigeria, with only 3% of children receiving pentavalent vaccine by their first birthday as revealed by National Bureau of Statistics and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

In 2016, eHealth Africa was engaged by the State Ministry of Health with support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Dangote group on the Vaccine Direct Delivery project to commence the delivery of vaccine and dry goods for immunization against vaccine preventable diseases in Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara and Sokoto State. The intervention most recently done in Collaboration with Sokoto State Primary HealthCare Development Agency (SSPHCDA) devised strategic ways to deliver Antigens and dry goods to cold chain-equipped health facilities at ward-level and LGA cold stores at appropriate temperatures (between +2 to +8 Degree Centigrade).

Using the Logistics Management Information System (LoMIS) ;a suite of offline-capable mobile and web applications developed by eHealth Africa, they address challenges with the supply/distribution of health commodities to last-mile health facilities. The LoMIS Suite applications have been instrumental in providing critical solutions that ensure availability of health commodities, effective vaccine management. It also enables broader health system policy decisions through the use of real data for insight and decision-making and execution at the community, LGA and state l level.

Stakeholders in Sokoto state agree that the Vaccine Direct Delivery interventions have contributed to reducing the challenge of zero stock for vaccines as a result of effective automated documentation of vaccines and its consumables while also limiting the use of papers to promote sustainability in both environment and the health sector. In the words of Murtala Bello, the Director, Pharmaceutical Services, and Logistics Officer, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Sokoto State, “the use of digital solutions has improved delivery, it has also improved availability of these vaccines.” This according to him has improved accessibility and increased immunization coverage in the State.

According to eHA project Manager, Mohammed Faosy, in the last 6 months (Jan-June), over 2 million vaccines have been delivered to average of 351 cold-chain equipped health facilities monthly, leading to the immunization of over 800,000 children against Vaccine preventable diseases in Sokoto State. This is an 18% increase in the number of children reported vaccinated in the state in the first half of 2022. He reiterated that, despite implementing the VDD project in a security-compromised location such as Sokoto state, the project’s performance in terms of delivery rate has been outstanding.

Reaffirming this, a Health Delivery Officer, Umar Muhammed remarked that due to insecurity, vaccines could not be delivered directly to about 5 health facilities in Sokoto state; Kiyara PHC, Damba PHC, Bauni PHC, Raka PHC, and Dangulbi PHC. He however revealed that the delivery team found a creative way to ensure these vaccines get to these high risk areas by liaising and collaborating with the Health facility in charge within those communities to get vaccines to their health facilities through close communications and stipend-based reward to ensure they have vaccines at their health facilities. He said, “we don’t just provide a stipend, we monitor and follow up until vaccines arrive at the facilities safely, deliveries were always 100% successful to the affected facilities”.

Also, bad road conditions escalated by the rainy season also made delivery of vaccines to Fadarawa Health Post, and Rugga Kijjo Health Post to be carried out using motorcycles from the LGA cold store. The Health Delivery Officer in the location Salihu Muhammed Hali said, the team monitors the process until vaccines arrive at the facilities safely within the required temperature, deliveries were always 100% successful to the affected facilities.

The team commended the effort of the Sokoto Ministry of Health and the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency’s (SSPHCDA) commitment to reducing zero-dose children and ensuring that quality vaccines are available at ward-level cold-chain equipped health facilities in the 23 LGAs in Sokoto state.

ehealth Africa Commits to promoting early detection of Circulating Variant Poliovirus through Lab Support

Posted on August 22, 2023August 23, 2024 by Moshood Isah

by Moshood Isah

Nigeria may have been declared a polio free nation but the Circulating variant Poliovirus Type 2 strain transmission still lingers. Nigeria reported 168 cases in 2022. This has made further interventions crucial particularly around early detection. The growing cases in a number of African countries require a focused effort to strengthen polio laboratories that can effectively help the affected countries to quickly confirm cVDPV2 cases and launch outbreak responses, including the introduction of novel OPV2.

In 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced a Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan (GPSAP 2018-2020) to support endemic, outbreak, and high-risk countries in evaluating and increasing the sensitivity of their surveillance systems against Polio. The plan also initiated supplemental strategies that may help in closing gaps in detecting polioviruses, including strategies for immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived polioviruses (iVDPVs) while also strengthening coordination across surveillance field teams to foster a more effective programme and document zero cases worldwide.

The new Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan (GPSAP) for 2022-2024. also focuses on increasing the speed of poliovirus detection, improving surveillance quality at the subnational level, fostering the integration of polio surveillance with surveillance for other epidemic-prone vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs), and mainstreaming gender equality in surveillance activities and programming as a key enabling factor.

To achieve parts of the Global Polio Surveillance Action Plan (GPSAP) 2022-2024, ehealth Africa worked with World Health Organisation (WHO) supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to renovate and upgrade the Sequencing Laboratory in the Virology department, University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State. The laboratory was commissioned by Kazadi Walter, Country Representative and Head of Mission; World Health Organisation to Nigeria. This is part of the effort to improve surveillance, rapid detection and response against the spread of Vaccine Derived Polio Virus and other vaccine preventable diseases.

Speaking during the official commissioning of the Laboratory, Dr. Kazadi Walter reiterated the commitment of WHO towards eradicating polio virus through the provision of facilities and rendering of technical support to Nigeria’s health care. He stated that WHO in collaboration with the government established the Global Polio Laboratory Network of which 16 are currently in Africa, with two located in Nigeria; Ibadan and Maiduguri. According to Walter, the primary objective is to work with WHO in the African Region (AFRO) to equip the global polio laboratory network labs for robust and rapid sample analysis for polio and to provide support in equipping these labs with sequencing capabilities.

Prof. Kayode Adebowale, the university vice chancellor, commended the initiative saying “this laboratory will not only provide vital information for the eradication of polio but also contribute to our university infrastructure, helping us to fulfill our vision and mission in addressing social needs.” The VC said: “The department has played a crucial role in Nigeria’s polio eradication programmes by contributing significantly to the country’s achievements of being declared wild polio-free in 2021.

Speaking on the role of eHealth Africa in the support for Laboratory Supplies across selected countries in Africa, the Project Manager, Tolulope Oginni said, to ensure optimum utility of the laboratory supplies, eHealth Africa leverages previous and current experience in setting up and managing Emergency Operation Centers to strengthen the staff capacity at the Laboratories in operating the installed equipment.

“These interventions for the support for laboratory supply and installation with consumables currently ongoing in at least 12 African countries are expected to improve the labs functionality for faster outbreak detection”, he said. With the support of other stakeholders in the region, this intervention will support labs in the African region that are targeted for expansion of sequencing capacity, support to improve existing sequencing capacity, or labs that require support for virus isolation and identification. This intervention has a huge opportunity to explore collaboration with WHO and other global stakeholders to transform the laboratory infrastructure in Africa into world class facilities which in turn will significantly strengthen their capacity and preparedness for disease outbreaks.

IYD 2023: Achieving Green Tech Skills for Sustainable Health Sector

Posted on August 12, 2023August 23, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Atef Fawaz

The gospel of promoting environmental sustainability seems to have lasted as long as the human race, with the campaign taking different dimensions in different periods during the last decades. The apprehension about sudden change in temperatures in recent times has escalated precipitation leading to flood, amongst other negative impacts. It is more worrisome as the environmental situation is now being consistently aggravated by human activities, leading to a global concern that requires action from all . Thus, this year’s International Youth Day with the theme; Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World, rightly mainstreams the need to shift towards an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world. This is not just crucial in promoting the global climate crisis but also relevant in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it relates to health and other sectors; the role of young people in the entire process cannot be underestimated.

According to the United Nations Concept note for this year’s celebration, Green skills are “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society”. This holistically captures all technical knowledge and skills that enable the effective use of green technologies and processes in occupational settings, as well as transversal skills that draw on a range of knowledge, values and attitudes to facilitate environmentally sustainable decisions in work and in life. As confirmed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), green skills transcends basic agriculture to any skill/job that contributes to the reduction in the consumption of energy and raw materials, limit greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and pollution, protect and restore ecosystems and enable enterprises and communities to adapt to climate change.

It’s even further interesting that, to a large extent, human jobs and survival largely depend on the sustainability of the natural environment. Thus there is a huge responsibility to take intentional steps that promote a sustainable environment. In this vein, stakeholders at all levels must galvanize the energy of young people towards achieving green skills to build a sustainable world across different sectors.

Specifically, the health sector is taking notable leaps in developing and deploying digital innovations that have significantly reduced the use of paper in the health systems. This protects the trees, contributing to the SDGs of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages. Digital innovations like Logistics Management Information System (LoMIS), a suite of offline-capable mobile and web applications developed by eHealth Africa, addresses challenges with the supply/distribution of health commodities to last-mile health facilities. The LoMIS Suite applications provide critical solutions that ensure availability of health commodities, effective vaccine management, and enable broader health system policy decisions through the use of real data for insight and execution at the community, state and national level. Deployed in primary healthcare facilities in Kano, Sokoto and Bauchi, the solutions have reduced the challenge of zero stock for vaccines due to effective automated documentation of vaccines and its consumables while also limiting the use of papers to promote sustainability in both environment and the health sector. Progress recorded for SDG Goal 3, reveals global health has made some improvements in recent years. For example, 146 out of 200 countries or areas have already met or are on track to meet the SDG target on under-5 mortality.

Other environmental-friendly tools that have been used in the health sector in recent years include Geographic Information Systems (GIS); particularly in the area of vaccination and immunization programs. Geospatial tools that use environmental data however require stability of environmental conditions to ensure its optimal utility.

Thus there are a series of platforms that can be harnessed to achieve the objective of mainstreaming green skills amongst young people in line with the objective of this year’s commemorations. While healthcare stakeholders in concomitance with Information technology experts are increasingly scaling innovations to improve early detection and response to diseases, it is paramount to equip young healthcare providers especially at state and Local Government levels with the knowledge and information necessary to understand the importance of green skills to further promote sustainability in the sector.

This can be achieved through targeted training of budding experts in various sectors to build relevant skills that will enable them to contribute to achieving a sustainable world across sectors. A great example is the eHealth Africa Academy which has consistently built young people’s skills in website creation, software development and design that can be used to solve local problems across sectors to promote a sustainable world.

To complement existing efforts, governments at all levels have a huge responsibility to initiate and promote important policies that will encourage the learning and adoption of green skills especially by young people. Also, there is an urgent need to implement laws that encourage data protection and security during interphase between digital innovations and human beings.

Ultimately young people must understand that, as a critical demographic in the world right now, the success or failure of green transition will rely on them. As an intergenerational bridge between the younger and older generation, young people need to be well-equipped with green skills to successfully navigate this changing environment and leverage the opportunities that it presents for a more sustainable future.

Nurturing Work-Life Synergy: eHealth Africa’s ‘Bring Your Kids to Work’ Program

Posted on August 7, 2023August 23, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Favour Oriaku

The aspiration to prevent work from consuming all our time is a shared one. The idea of a clear boundary between work and personal life can be somewhat blurry as modern life has intertwined the two, demanding a new approach to create a fine synergy between them. Achieving this synergy would enrich personal lives and also foster a sense of equilibrium that can elevate work performance and overall well-being.

In an era where juggling professional commitments and family life has become increasingly complex, its significance cannot be overstated. The absence of work-life harmony negatively impacts employee performance, leading to reduced productivity and engagement. An example of an organization actively promoting work-life harmony was seen when eHealth Africa opened its doors for a unique event. “Bring Your Kids to Work Day” showed eHealth Africa’s commitment to being one of the best workplaces in Nigeria, prioritizing work-life harmony for its employees.

On the 4th of August, the eHealth Africa office came alive with excitement as little feet brought laughter and energy into the workspace. Parents and children embarked on a memorable journey together, participating in a meticulously planned day of activities. This initiative is a manifestation of eHealth Africa’s belief that a happy workforce translates into a more productive one. Adesina Matti, the HR manager, expressed, “We want to create an experience that not only brings joy to the kids but also strengthens the bond between employees and their families. ‘Bring Your Kids to Work Day’ perfectly aligns with our commitment to a healthy work-life harmony and building stronger family connections within our workplace.”

The event commenced with Fozia Malik, a member of the senior management team, warmly welcoming the children. She shared insights from her own life and career journey. Her motivational talk encouraged the kids to pursue their dreams with determination. The HR manager also addressed the young audience, introducing them to the organization’s mission, vision, and work strategy.

The day was filled with activities designed to engage and inspire the young participants. Indoor games like ‘concentration’ and dancing chairs filled the air with excitement before transitioning to outdoor games, including a bouncing castle and a creative canvas painting competition. Face painting added an extra layer of fun, and the kids even had the opportunity to observe their parents at work, gaining insight into their daily routines and responsibilities.

The senior HR coordinator Regina Suowari, also stated: “Beyond providing children with a glimpse into their parents’ work lives, today’s event aimed to instill the value of education and empower them to envision and pursue their futures. The event also served as a bonding opportunity, allowing employees to connect on a more personal level as colleagues’ children interacted and shared their aspirations.”

The “Bring Your Kids to Work Day” initiative offered a unique opportunity for children to glimpse into the adult world of work. It demystified what their parents do during the day and provided a formative experience that could shape their own future career aspirations. The event served as an educational platform, teaching children the value of hard work, and teamwork, and perhaps sparked an early interest in fields they might not have been exposed to otherwise. It also allowed for a deeper emotional connection to be formed between parent and child, as they shared a special day together in a setting that is typically separate from family life.

In conclusion, eHealth Africa’s “Bring Your Kids to Work Day” initiative achieved its vision of creating a remarkable experience for both employees and their families. The event re-echoes the possibility of harmonizing work and family life, cultivating a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being and engagement. As organizations worldwide seek ways to promote work-life harmony, eHealth Africa’s example stands as an inspiring testament to the potential of such initiatives in nurturing a more harmonious and fulfilling work environment.

Watch the event highlight HERE

eHealth Africa hosts the Insight Learning Forum 2023: Stakeholders Call for Interoperability and Institutionalization of Digital Health Innovations

Posted on August 2, 2023August 25, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Moshood Isah

In recent years, there have been discussions to advance digital health innovations in a bid to tackle public health challenges especially in developing countries of the world. This has led to the proliferation of digital innovations in public health in a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was the focus of discussion at the multi-stakeholder Insight Learning Forum organized by eHealth Africa on Wednesday, 26th July, with the theme “Digital Innovations in Public Health Practice: Lessons and Impact. The forum officially launches an annual country digital health learning event, bringing together professionals and practitioners in the digital and public health sectors to share experiences, insights, and knowledge regarding the use of digital health innovations in public health implementation.

The Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz stated the relevance of the gathering saying, “it encourages the sharing of ideas and knowledge in a bid to explore solutions that will transform the way projects are being delivered to improve the health sector”. This is in line with Report of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation that reveals that digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in our history; reaching around 50 percent of the developing world’s population in only two decades and transforming societies.

In his own remark, Deputy Director, Programs and Impact in Program Delivery at ehealth Africa David Akpan said “the maiden edition of the forum is to provide a platform for organizations to exhibit their solutions and subsequently, it will lead to potential interoperability, alignment and integration of these solutions.” This according to him will ensure that talks on digital innovations in Nigeria will be as entities rather than individual innovators.

The Global Digital Health Strategy (2022-2025) designed by the World Health Organisation stresses the standard practice that players in the health sector are supposed to help countries achieve. Further emphasizing the role of stakeholders and importance of collaborations like the Insight Forum Pharmacist Murtala Bello, Director, Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) said the meeting would present stakeholders with additional digital health solutions from other people so as to pick their interest to effectively utilize it to solve healthcare delivery service challenges.

The Insight Learning Forum presented an opportunity for organizations to showcase digital innovations which have been instrumental in disease surveillance, vaccine delivery in different parts of Nigeria and some parts of Africa. Some of the innovations demonstrated include the Logistics Management System (LoMIS), Vaccine Direct Delivery, enhancing HIV patients care, Laboratory Management Information System (LAMIS), IMMAP, among others.

The forum also featured a panel session where it dissects interoperability of Digital Health Innovations in Public Health across the African Region. The panelists featuring the Deputy Director, Global Health Informatics in ICT Services, Abdulhamid Yahaya from eHA, Evans Ondura, Deputy Country Director DataFi and Emeka Chukwu, Senior Digital Advisor at Health Enabled emphasized the need to ensure a responsible African context sensitive digital solution and the need to develop solutions that distinctly provide solutions or enhance existing innovations.

From Novice to Software Engineer: Muflihat’s Transformative Experience with eHA Academy

Posted on June 19, 2023August 25, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Favour Oriaku

Introduction:

In today’s digital era, technology plays a pivotal role in addressing local challenges and improving communities’ well-being. Recognizing this, eHealth Africa (eHA) has taken on the mission to share knowledge and empower the next generation of tech enthusiasts in Africa. With over a decade of experience in developing and deploying digital solutions across the continent, eHA established the eHA Academy, a training arm that has been at the forefront of equipping aspiring individuals with software development skills for over four years now. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the transformative journey of Muflihat Abdulmajid, a graduate of the eHA Academy, and how the program paved the way for a promising career in software engineering.

Unveiling the eHA Academy:

eHA Academy is a renowned program that offers free training to individuals throughout Africa, irrespective of their technical background. The program’s primary focus is to equip participants with the necessary skills to create digital solutions that contribute to healthier communities. Spanning nine months, the program consists of two phases: three months of intensive in-class live sessions followed by a six-month internship. By combining engaging live sessions, videos, challenging assignments, and practical projects, students acquire both theoretical knowledge and real-world experience, setting them on the path to success.

Muflihat’s Transformational Journey:

Muflihat Abdulmajid’s story exemplifies the transformative impact of the eHA Academy. Initially skeptical due to a lack of computer science or engineering background, Muflihat hesitated to apply for the program. However, after realizing that a technical background was not a prerequisite, Muflihat took the leap of faith and applied, securing a spot in the cohort.

Reflecting on the training experience, Muflihat shared, “At first, it was quite fierce and challenging because I didn’t have a computer background. However, the small wins of completing a challenging task and the support from fellow students kept me motivated.” The rigorous curriculum, comprising live sessions, videos, and assignments, pushed Muflihat beyond her comfort zone, helping her develop a strong foundation in HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Internship and Career Opportunities:

The journey didn’t end with the completion of the eHA Academy program. Muflihat’s dedication and newfound skills led to an internship offer from eHealth Africa’s software department. This internship proved to be an invaluable opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during the program and work alongside experienced software developers. Muflihat recalls, “The internship sharpened my skills further and opened the door to a full-time role as an associate software engineer within the software department at eHealth Africa.”

The Impact and Gratitude:

Muflihat’s testimonial is a testament to eHA Academy’s transformative impact on aspiring tech enthusiasts. “The eHA Academy course was the birth of my career as a software engineer,” Muflihat shares. “The joy and fulfillment I now have, being part of a team building software solutions for public health interventions here at eHealth Africa, is compared to none.”

Muflihat expresses gratitude to the eHA Academy team, mentors, and tutors for their dedicated efforts in shaping her professional journey. “I will forever be grateful to the eHA Academy team, the mentors and tutors who have put in effort in shaping me into who I have now become and for grooming young Africans in the tech ecosystem.”

Conclusion:

eHA Academy’s commitment to empowering the next generation of tech enthusiasts in Africa has led to remarkable success stories like that of Muflihat Abdulmajid. By providing free training, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience, and fostering career opportunities, the program serves as a vital stepping stone for aspiring tech enthusiasts. Through eHA Academy, eHealth Africa continues to nurture young African talent, enabling them to make significant contributions to their communities and beyond.

Tackling Nigeria’s Zero Dose Challenge: The Final Push with Geospatial Tracking

Posted on June 7, 2023August 25, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Nnenna Ohiaeri

Introduction

In 2020, Nigeria was declared wild polio-free after meeting the requirements to attain the status, which includes 3 years without any new cases of wild poliovirus in the country1. Prior to achieving this milestone, Nigeria was one of only three countries in the wild with endemic wild polio. GIS (Geographic Information System) tracking was first implemented in Nigeria’s Polio program in 2012 with eHA’s Vaccination Tracking project (VTS). VTS was decommissioned in 2020, just after Nigeria was declared Polio free.

Our Intervention

Since 2022, eHA has been providing GIS tracking support to the polio outbreak campaigns in security-compromised locations with the Polio Special Intervention project, which is part of a key focus area of eHA – Public Health Emergency Response Systems. The purpose of this project is to support the efforts to improve the Polio outbreak response in Nigeria, with a focus on circulating variant poliovirus type 2, cVPV2, using the new Geospatial Tracking System (GTS) application to track vaccination teams.

“Special Intervention”, in this context, refers to the security-compromised nature of the implementing states. Due to banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism, several settlements in these states are either inaccessible or partially accessible. Vaccine-eligible children residing in these areas are denied access to their necessary vaccinations such as the Polio vaccine due to the insecurity posed by these activities. Accessing these communities means reaching the missed children and protecting the communities from disease outbreaks and securing a truly polio-free Nigeria. The project is being implemented in 57 local government areas (LGAs) with security-compromised settlements, in 7 priority states- Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.

Geospatial Tracking System (GTS) was introduced by Novel-T after the decommissioning of the VTS application. The GTS application is a “lightweight” version of the VTS and was first piloted in Borno State in 2020 and is currently being used on this Polio Special Intervention project.

The GTS application is used to monitor vaccination teams and report daily missed settlements based on the DIPs (daily implementation plans) of a campaign. The process flow is displayed below:

Results

Since the inception of the project, the eHA-led activity has had a significant impact on the polio campaign implementation. Between September 2022 to May 2023, eHA has supported 66 LGAs with GIS tracking across the 7 implementing states. 3,953 settlements with vaccine-eligible children have been verified to have been visited by the vaccination teams during 2 rounds of polio campaign implementation in the states, using GTS trackers, and 1,664 vaccination teams were tracked during the campaigns.

Field technical teams were deployed to each implementing LGA to support the campaign. 66 LGA consultants were trained on the administration and operation of the GTS application. The consultants built the capacity of the LGA team on GIS tracking with trainings on GTS and the handling of the trackers. This was necessary to make sure that the vaccination teams are fully equipped and knowledgeable enough to successfully implement GIS tracking during the campaigns. Data collection activities were also conducted during the campaigns to obtain the geo-coordinates of settlements that are not on the Polio geodatabase (GDB). 69 data collectors were trained on the use of the KoboCollect application to collect geo-coordinate data in the field. This data collection ensured that the visitation of the planned settlements by the vaccination teams could be verified.

Conclusion

GIS tracking has helped increase vaccination coverage throughout the 7 priority states where it was implemented. In addition to increased coverage, GIS tracking also provided data-driven insights for decision-making. It increases the quality of campaign implementation and improves accountability, by validating the tally sheet reports generated by the vaccination teams. GIS tracking can be utilized beyond polio programming to support other vaccination initiatives by improving vaccination coverage and in turn, boosting Nigeria’s immunization indices.

Engagement meeting with the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency team
L-R : Basheerdeen Abdullahi (eHA State Coordinator), Mohammed Alhaji Usman (State Health Educator), Abubakar Shehu (Program Manager, eHA), Kpantus Abubakar (State Immunization Officer), and Nnenna Ohiaeri (Project Manager, eHA)

Digital Health Innovations Will Revolutionize Anti-malaria Fight – Expert

Posted on April 28, 2023August 25, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Moshood Isah

As part of effort and advocacy to achieve Zero Malaria by 2030, experts have continued to call stakeholders in the health sector to intensify the adoption and deployment of digital health innovations for the fight against malaria especially in the African region. This is in line with the 2023 Malaria Day theme; time to deliver Zero Malaria: invest, innovate, implement.

To commemorate World Malaria Day 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had urged countries affected by malaria globally to accelerate the reach of high-impact tools and strategies to prevent, detect and treat malaria, with a focus on reaching the most vulnerable, ensuring that no one is left behind.

According to the World Health Organisation, there were an estimated 247 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2021 with over 600,000 malaria deaths yearly. Unfortunately, the African Region is reportedly home to 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths with Children under 5 accounting for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the Region.

Despite continued effort to eradicate malaria, the parasite remains a challenge especially amongst children. This is largely due to rising resistance to insecticide-treated nets and to antimalarial drugs particularly in Africa according to the World Health Organisation. It is more than ever imperative to deploy innovative ways to combat the parasite which is why stakeholders are now turning towards the use of digital tools. Adoption and deployment of innovative digital tools have helped in early detection, improved diagnosis and potentially better treatment of Malaria parasites in the predominantly affected locations.

For instance, Lomis, an offline logistic management tool was custom-built by eHealth Africa for the Seasonal Malaria Campaign (SMC) in Borno, Nigeria. The platform was used to support the distribution of malaria commodities, including insecticide treated nets (ITNs), malaria diagnostic kits, and antimalarial drugs. Through the platform, government and development partners were able to track the distribution of malaria commodities from the national level down to the health facility level. Plainfield is another eHealth Africa’s digital solution- a mobile and web-based application that helps you plan field logistics for public health interventions. It is deployed for malaria campaigns to ensure better planning, tracking of teams, data collection, and coverage with geospatial tools. Other tools proving to be important in fighting malaria especially in the area of logistics management and distributon, include CommCare, Redrose, Reveal amongst others.

Speaking during Insights- a public health webinar hosted by eHealth Africa, medical expert, Dr Dennis Marke, a clinician and program manager, Systems strengthening in the ministry of Health and Science and National Malaria control program in Sierra Leone reiterated the need to strengthen public private partnership to improve the fight against malaria through improved access to medical information, communication and health application in issues around malaria control.

The webinar series tagged; insight titled “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Investing in Sustainable Digital Health Innovations,” fosters conversations with professionals within the public health space. During the discussion, Dr Dennis said digital health tools have proven instrumental in the seemingly unending antimalaria fight in the region.

According to him, mobile based innovations through SMS messages have between 70-80% penetration in Sierra Leone and have been effective in reaching out to the population about the symptoms of Malaria and need for testing. He gave an instance saying, “in the 2017 mass campaign, we used rocket pro mobile applications to track the supply of medical equipment and drugs at our peripheral health units”.

Dr Dennis also mentioned other forms of digital tools like Solar Power Mosquito Trap; District Health Information System(DHIS) amongst others, that have been instrumental in laboratory analysis, research, surveillance and tracking of health interventions even in remote communities.

While admitting the existing challenge of Internet connectivity in some hard to reach communities he said, “you can have this technology sitting out there and if the cell phone penetration is the hardest to reach, the marginalized communities are not covered, that’s a huge challenge”. He called for proper coordination in delivering digital health interventions, through effective mapping of digital health partners to identify their areas of strength. This according to him will ensure unity of purpose and to ensure all partners work towards achieving the overall goal of fighting against malaria.

Insights is a Public Health webinar series hosted by eHealth Africa. The webinar series enables conversation with public health professionals to establish eHealth Africa as a thought leader in the Public Health space, create visibility for the organization and create new opportunities for business opportunities for the organization within the public health space.

Shaping the Future of Healthcare Access in Africa: Abigail Ayogu’s Story

Posted on April 27, 2023August 25, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Favour Oriaku

Abigail Ayogu’s story is one of passion, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact in Africa’s healthcare sector through technology. As a UI/UX designer at eHealth Africa, she plays a crucial role in building digital health solutions that improve healthcare access and outcomes for millions of people on the continent.

Abigail’s journey began when she discovered her passion for UI/UX design during her studies in Computer Science at Baze University, Abuja. She has since worked in various industries, honing her skills and experience in design and technology, including healthcare, where she found her true calling.

At eHealth Africa, Abigail’s focus is on designing user interfaces and user experiences that are intuitive, user-friendly, and accessible to diverse users across the continent. Her human-centered approach involves understanding the needs and constraints of users and developing solutions that solve their problems effectively.

One of Abigail’s notable achievements is her work on the Electronic Management of Immunization Data (EMID) platform. She designed and prototyped a robust mobile application for managing COVID-19 vaccination records in Nigeria within a short timeline.

The platform’s publicly-accessible vaccination registration and verification system promotes transparency and timely vaccinations, making it a critical tool in the fight against the pandemic.

For Abigail, the most rewarding aspect of her work is seeing the solutions she designs in the hands of the people they were intended for, solving their problems, and making their lives better. “For me, it’s an indescribable feeling seeing my solution in the hands of the people it was designed for as they use it seamlessly, and seeing how it fits well into their workflow, solving the problems it was designed to solve. That feeling of making a positive impact is something I truly cherish,” says Abigail when asked what she finds most rewarding about her work at eHA.

She is committed to staying current with the latest trends and best practices in UI/UX design, taking online courses, reading design books, and keeping up with local and international design and product communities.

Abigail is also passionate about empowering young girls and women to pursue careers in STEM, specifically in UI/UX design. Abigail has this advice: “It is worth it, and it is fulfilling to pursue a career in design and tech. To be successful, you need to put in the work, stay curious and always be willing to learn. Make sure to network and build relationships within the industry, and find a mentor who can guide you.“

As we celebrate International Day of Girls in ICT, Abigail Ayogu’s story is a reminder of the critical role that women and girls play in shaping the future of healthcare access in Africa. Her dedication, passion, and commitment to making a positive impact in the world through technology serve as an inspiration to all.

Revolutionizing Malaria Interventions in Nigeria: 5 Digital Tools Leading the Fight

Posted on April 25, 2023August 25, 2024 by Moshood Isah

By Judith Owoicho

Several factors may account for why malaria is so common in Nigeria which bears up to 25% of the malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa. It remains a significant health concern. In 2021, the country accounted for 31% of global deaths from the disease. Control of malaria is often hinged on global strategies, including prompt and effective case management, intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) of malaria in pregnancy, and integrated vector management (IVM): use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN), indoor residual spraying (IRS), and environmental management (EM), all of which have been employed at varying degrees to combat the disease.

Efforts made over the years were further stalled in the first year of the pandemic which saw a rise in malaria cases and deaths. With at least half of the world’s population at risk of contracting malaria, it is critical to continually explore new interventions to prevent and treat the disease.

So far, insecticidal-treated nets have proven to be the most effective way of preventing malaria and reducing death rates in Nigeria. However, their distribution to the last mile is often a challenge. To overcome this challenge, several organizations have turned to technology and digital tools to enhance the efficiency of malaria intervention programs. Here are five innovative tools that have been predominantly used:

LoMIS

Lomis is an offline logistic management tool custom-built by eHealth Africa for the Seasonal Malaria Campaign (SMC) in Borno, Nigeria. The platform was used to support the distribution of malaria commodities, including insecticidal treated nets (ITNs), malaria diagnostic kits, and antimalarial drugs. Through the platform, government and development partners were able to track the distribution of malaria commodities from the national level down to the health facility level. The tracking system ensures that malaria commodities are delivered to the right places at the right time, and that stock-outs are minimized. It also ensures that malaria commodities are not lost or stolen during transportation and that they are stored properly at health facilities. It has improved data management and reporting in the malaria sector in Nigeria.

Planfeld

Plainfield is eHealth Africa’s digital solution- a mobile and web-based application that helps you plan field logistics for public health interventions. It is deployed for malaria campaigns to ensure better planning, tracking of teams, data collection, and coverage with geospatial tools. Micro planning is done based on the geospatial listing of settlements from the Nigeria data portal: mapping information and can be auto-generated to estimate the appropriate number and distribution of teams to effectively implement activities within specified days across selected settlements or locations. The planning is carried out at the local government administrative level for each ward/district to be covered. GIS-enabled mobile devices are deployed to every ward/district where malaria activities are to be implemented. GPS tracks and location data are collected, via passive and active monitoring respectively. These geospatial datasets are analyzed via automated systems to determine which settlements are reached and the proportion of settlement areas that have been covered. With the use of the Planfeld during the seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign in 2020, coverage of all 27 LGAs in Born was achieved, reaching over 2 million children.

CommCare

CommCare is a digital platform that has been used to support the distribution of insecticidal-treated nets (ITNs) to hard-to-reach areas. Through the platform, community health workers (CHWs) can register households and distribute ITNs, recording data on the location, number of nets distributed, and the size of the household. This information is then sent to a centralized server, where it can be monitored and evaluated for effectiveness. CommCare has also been utilized to support the treatment of malaria. CHWs can use the platform to diagnose and treat malaria in the community, recording data on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up visits. In addition to ITN distribution, CommCare has also been used to support behavior change communication (BCC) campaigns to educate communities on the prevention of malaria, delivering educational messages to individuals and communities, providing them with the information they need to protect themselves from the disease. Commcare has been used in 130 countries for several interventions including malaria.

Reveal

Reveal is a global good and an open-source platform that uses spatial intelligence to drive the delivery of life-saving interventions. Reveal has played a critical role in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of malaria interventions, particularly in the areas of data collection, analysis, and reporting. It has been used to collect data on the distribution of insecticidal treated nets (ITNs), malaria diagnosis and treatment, and other malaria interventions. Community health workers (CHWs) use the platform to record data on the number of ITNs distributed, the number of people tested and treated for malaria, and other key indicators. It also generates automated reports on the status of malaria interventions, including ITN distribution, malaria diagnosis and treatment, and other key indicators. The platform can also generate alerts and notifications, highlighting areas where interventions may be falling short. It has also been integrated with national health information systems, allowing for data to be shared across different levels of the health system. This integration enables program managers and policymakers to monitor the effectiveness of malaria interventions at a national level.

RedRose

RedRose is a mobile-based platform that provides real-time monitoring and evaluation of malaria programs, allowing for tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement. It enables health workers to collect data in real-time using mobile devices including information on the number of ITNs distributed, the number of malaria cases diagnosed and treated, and the number of pregnant women who received intermittent preventive treatment for malaria. This real-time data collection helps to quickly identify challenges and respond to them before they escalate. Its digital mapping capabilities allow for the identification of areas with high malaria burden and prioritizes interventions accordingly. The platform can also be used to map the distribution of ITNs, ensuring that they reach the last mile. It includes an SMS reminder feature, which sends reminders to health workers and patients on important tasks and appointments. This feature helps to ensure that patients receive timely care and that health workers stay on top of their tasks.

The use of digital tools for malaria control in Nigeria may face several challenges, including technical and implementation challenges, as well as limitations in reach. Addressing these challenges will be essential for the successful integration of digital tools into malaria control efforts. However, the use of digital tools for malaria control in Nigeria has great potential to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of malaria. Other areas needing a closer look may be to identify and address the challenges and limitations of digital tools and to maximize their potential for malaria control in Nigeria.