The Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz, has said more than 23 million children were vaccinated against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in 15 states during the first half of 2026.

Mr Fawaz said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the states included Niger, Kano, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa and Zamfara.

He said the vaccination campaigns, supported by eHealth Africa, were conducted across more than 205,000 settlements, using technology-driven approaches to improve coverage and efficiency.

According to him, the organisation expanded the use of digital technology, geospatial tracking systems (GTS), renewable energy solutions, laboratory infrastructure and public health coordination systems.

Mr Fawaz stated this in the organisation’s 2026 Mid-Year Report titled “Expanding Reach, Readiness and Resilience: Data-Driven Health Systems Across Africa.”

He said the report highlighted eHealth Africa’s interventions between January and June 2026, demonstrating progress in expanding access to essential health services.

According to him, the interventions also strengthened preparedness for public health emergencies and contributed to building more resilient health systems across Africa.

“They reflect what becomes possible when governments, communities, technology, infrastructure, and local expertise work together to strengthen the systems behind healthcare delivery.

“Our focus is not simply on deploying solutions but on building systems that institutions can own, sustain, and continue to improve,” he said.

Mr Fawaz said eHealth Africa expanded the deployment of its in-house PlanFeld digital tool across 253 local government areas in 10 northern states, supporting 33,837 vaccination teams with digitised microplans and catchment-area maps.

He added that the technology was deployed in four LGAs of Lagos State during the Measles-Rubella campaign, where 1,980 digitised maps were produced and distributed to vaccination teams.

The executive director said the report also highlighted progress in strengthening the last-mile vaccine supply chain in Sokoto State.

According to him, through the vaccine direct delivery (VDD) intervention, the number of health facilities served increased from 351 to 407.

He said approximately 3.41 million vaccine antigens were delivered to support immunisation services in underserved communities.

Mr Fawaz said eHealth Africa also recorded significant financial and environmental gains through investments in renewable energy for primary healthcare.

He explained that under the Renewable Energy for Primary Health Care (RE4PHC) intervention, supported by UNICEF, the organisation solarised 238 primary healthcare centres across 12 states.

“In H1 2026, 226 remotely monitored facilities generated 277,800 kWh of solar electricity, avoiding an estimated N166 million in fuel costs and 240 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Since inception, estimated fuel savings have exceeded N414 million,” he said.

Mr Fawaz said eHealth Africa strengthened diagnostic and disease-surveillance capacity across Africa by supporting 17 laboratories in 13 countries and expanding its inventory management system to 18 laboratories.

He added that upgrades to five laboratories in Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria and Cameroon had been completed and handed over to strengthen diagnosis, surveillance and outbreak response.

According to him, the 11 emergency operations centres supported and managed by eHealth Africa in Nigeria continued to serve as coordination platforms for government agencies and development partners.

He said that during the first half of 2026, the centres hosted 546 emergency coordination meetings, supported 102 campaign-related meetings and produced 74 public health scorecards.

Mr Fawaz said the organisation also expanded community-level surveillance of antibiotic availability and suspected substandard and falsified medicines through the Com-WATCH initiative.

“Across Kano, Gombe, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, and the Federal Capital Territory, 2,512 surveillance actors were enrolled, 2,763 medicine vendors and other actors were trained, and more than 20,500 community members were reached with sensitisation messages.

“By mid-year, 977 medicine outlets were reporting stock information through the platform,” he said.

He further said that eHealth Africa’s management of the World Food Programme Common Storage Facility in Ngala, Borno, supported 16 humanitarian partners.

According to him, the warehouse handled 691 metric tonnes and 2,527 cubic metres of commodities, completed six monthly physical inventories and recorded no stock losses during the period.

(NAN)