FG finds over 217,000 kids who missed vaccinations

The Federal Government has found more than 217,000 children who did not get vaccinated in the past 18 months. They used digital tracking technology to do this. The aim is to boost routine immunisation and cut down on diseases that vaccines can prevent across Nigeria.

Muyi Aina, who is the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), shared this news on Tuesday. He spoke on “Integrated Primary Healthcare Transformation: Building Sustainable Systems for Equitable Care at Scale” during the Insights Learning Forum (ILF) 2026. This event is eHealth Africa’s main digital health conference, held in Abuja. It brought together policymakers, development partners, and digital health experts from all over Africa. They discussed how digital innovations and partnerships can strengthen health systems and improve access to quality healthcare.

Mr Aina explained that the agency has moved past old methods for routine immunisation. They now use digital tools to track vaccination teams, find children who missed their shots, and ensure accountability. The agency started using GPS trackers to monitor vaccination teams and confirm that they reached their assigned areas. Data from this technology showed gaps in service delivery. This information helped health authorities to take necessary actions.

The agency has now expanded the use of these tools. They focus on finding children who missed their vaccinations, especially in hard-to-reach areas and underserved communities. “The important thing is that we are now able to make objective assessments with data and use the evidence to improve program delivery,” Mr Aina said.

The government is also trying to boost primary healthcare by increasing the number of active Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the country. Mr Aina described a functional PHC as one that has good infrastructure, skilled health workers, essential equipment, sustainable financing, and reliable electricity. Each centre should have enough staff to provide services 24/7. Staff accommodation is also needed where necessary to support round-the-clock operations. They expect ongoing investments to increase the number of functional PHCs to about 8,800 nationwide.

Mr Aina acknowledged that the movement of healthcare workers is a big challenge. He noted that the agency is working with state governments to move from temporary staffing to better recruitment and retention strategies.

To improve transparency and accountability in managing funds, the government plans to introduce digital financial systems. Mr Aina explained that direct disbursement methods and digital reporting platforms help facilities access resources more effectively. They are also integrating electronic medical records and other digital health information systems into primary healthcare services. This will help with planning and decision-making.

Yusuf Yusufari, Deputy Director of Immunisation and Disease Control at the Gates Foundation, highlighted the importance of partnerships, data, and community-focused approaches. He said these are key to reducing preventable deaths in Nigeria. Mr Yusufari pointed out that many things causing high mortality rates go beyond the health sector. So, working together across sectors is very important. He confirmed the foundation’s commitment to assist the Nigerian government with technical support, advocacy, and investments. He stressed that digital innovations should support government priorities, not replace them.