Geographic Information Systems and the Push for Stronger Polio Campaign in Kwara State

Case Study

The deployment of GTS in Kwara State demonstrates how digital tracking can strengthen the quality, accountability, and responsiveness of polio immunization campaigns. In a state with diverse populations, dispersed settlements, mobile communities, and security-compromised areas, reaching every eligible child requires more than planned vaccination routes. It requires real-time visibility into where teams are going, which settlements are being reached, and where children may still be missed.

By supporting settlement validation, team tracking, daily data review, and evidence- based mop-up planning, GTS has helped Kwara State move from assumption-based reporting to more reliable, data-driven campaign management. The system has improved the state’s ability to identify missed and poorly covered settlements, guide teams back to unreached areas, and make faster decisions during implementation. It has also strengthened confidence in campaign data and reinforced the importance of
accountability in last-mile immunization delivery.

While challenges remain, particularly around insecurity, delayed data uploads, connectivity, power supply, and the coordination of multiple digital tools, the Kwara experience shows that geospatial tracking can play a critical role in closing immunization gaps. With continued investment in settlement data, operational readiness, state ownership, and field team support, GTS can further strengthen polio eradication efforts and help ensure that even children in the most difficult-to-reach communities are seen, reached, and protected.