Abuja: The Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz, announced that over 23 million children were vaccinated against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases in 15 states during the first half of 2026. This milestone was achieved through extensive vaccination campaigns supported by eHealth Africa across more than 205,000 settlements, utilizing technology-driven approaches to enhance coverage and efficiency.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, eHealth Africa expanded the use of digital technology, Geospatial Tracking Systems (GTS), renewable energy solutions, laboratory infrastructure, and public health coordination systems. These advancements were detailed in the organisation’s 2026 Mid-Year Report titled, ‘Expanding Reach, Readiness and Resilience: Data-Driven Health Systems Across Africa.’ The report highlights the progress made between January and June 2026 in expanding access to essential health services and strengthening public health emergency preparedness.
Fawaz emphasized that the organization’s focus extends beyond deploying solutions, aiming to build systems that institutions can own, sustain, and improve. eHealth Africa has also expanded the deployment of its in-house PlanFeld digital tool across 253 Local Government Areas in 10 northern states, aiding 33,837 vaccination teams with digitized microplans and catchment-area maps. In Lagos State, the technology was used in four LGAs during the Measles-Rubella campaign, producing and distributing 1,980 digitized maps to vaccination teams.
The report also highlights progress in strengthening the last-mile vaccine supply chain in Sokoto State. Through the Vaccine Direct Delivery (VDD) intervention, the number of health facilities served increased from 351 to 407, with approximately 3.41 million vaccine antigens delivered to support immunization services in underserved communities.
eHealth Africa recorded financial and environmental gains through investments in renewable energy for primary healthcare. Under the Renewable Energy for Primary Health Care (RE4PHC) intervention, supported by UNICEF, 238 primary healthcare centres across 12 states were solarized. In the first half of 2026, 226 remotely monitored facilities generated 277,800 kWh of solar electricity, saving an estimated N166 million in fuel costs and avoiding 240 metric tons of CO2 emissions. Since inception, fuel savings have exceeded N414 million.
The organisation also strengthened diagnostic and disease-surveillance capacity across Africa by supporting 17 laboratories in 13 countries and expanding its Inventory Management System to 18 laboratories. Upgrades to five laboratories in Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria, and Cameroon have been completed and handed over to bolster diagnosis, surveillance, and outbreak response.
eHealth Africa’s 11 Emergency Operations Centres in Nigeria continued to serve as coordination platforms for government agencies and development partners. In the first half of 2026, these centres hosted 546 emergency coordination meetings, supported 102 campaign-related meetings, and produced 74 public health scorecards.
The organisation expanded community-level surveillance of antibiotic availability and suspected substandard and falsified medicines through the Com-WATCH initiative. In Kano, Gombe, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, and the Federal Capital Territory, 2,512 surveillance actors were enrolled, 2,763 medicine vendors and other actors trained, and over 20,500 community members reached with sensitization messages. By mid-year, 977 medicine outlets were reporting stock information through the platform.
eHealth Africa’s management of the World Food Programme Common Storage Facility in Ngala, Borno, supported 16 humanitarian partners. The warehouse handled 691 metric tons and 2,527 cubic metres of commodities, completed six monthly physical inventories, and recorded no stock losses during the period.