Tracking Vaccination Teams During Polio Campaigns in Northern Nigeria by Use of Geographic Information System Technology: 2013–2015

Abstract

Introduction. Nigeria is among the 3 countries in which polio remains endemic. The country made significant efforts to reduce polio transmission but remains challenged by poor-quality campaigns and poor team performance in some areas. This article demonstrates the application of geographic information system technology to track vaccination teams to monitor settlement coverage, reduce the number of missed settlements, and improve team performance.Methods. In each local government area where tracking was conducted, global positioning system–enabled Android phones were given to each team on a daily basis and were used to record team tracks. These tracks were uploaded to a dashboard to show the level of coverage and identify areas missed by the teams.Results. From 2012 to June 2015, tracking covered 119 immunization days. A total of 1149 tracking activities were conducted. Of these, 681 (59%) were implemented in Kano state. There was an improvement in the geographic coverage of settlements and an overall reduction in the number of missed settlements.Conclusions. The tracking of vaccination teams provided significant feedback during polio campaigns and enabled supervisors to evaluate performance of vaccination teams. The reports supported other polio program activities, such as review of microplans and the deployment of other interventions, for increasing population immunity in northern Nigeria.

From paper maps to digital maps: enhancing routine immunisation microplanning in Northern Nigeria

“…These data and technology can be used to improve the validity and quality of catchment area maps and population estimates and increase transparency around how such data are generated and used to improve accountability for RI resource allocation. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has applied geographical information systems (GIS) in Nigeria to track polio vaccination, provide near real-time monitoring of team performance and identify service gaps since 2012 8 12–14. In 2017, the Bauchi and Sokoto SPHCDAs, with support from the Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) of the US Agency for International Development, sought an alternative approach to improve RI microplanning using GIS technology.…”

Polio: getting ready for the day after eradication

“…The app enables them to discuss new cases quickly and to determine where VCMs should be located. This partner funded information system should play a crucial role in the future, she says 1…”

Use of m-Health in polio eradication and other immunization activities in developing countries

“…Five studies that involved polio, cholera, and measles campaigns applied mHealth to improve the organization and planning for mass vaccine campaigns (Table 3). Electronic data collection for pre-campaign surveys helped identify areas that were missed by previous campaigns and establish a strategy for isolated communities [22,23,24,25,26]. In one study from Haiti, geospatial mapping of campaign activity proved to be a useful tool for campaign strategy planning [23].…”

“…Studies have identified a growing capacity for health workers in developing countries to adapt and use smartphones for health related interventions as well as a variable willingness to abandon their old system to a new one [6,11]. However, unreliable or spotty networks may be a barrier in remote settings [21,22,23,24,25]. Some of the examples where connectivity issues impeded vaccine activity efforts include settings where more than one-half of households at a site did not have GPS coordinates for geospatial mapping and campaign planning.…”

“…The tragic reemergence of wild polio virus in Nigeria in August 2016 highlights the urgent need to apply new innovations towards the global fight against polio. The five studies that solely focused on enhancing polio programs demonstrate the capacity to utilize these technologies in the field[19,22,24,25,27]. Using mobile devices equipped with geospatial mapping technologies for pre-and post-campaign evaluations shows promise in reducing chronically missed communities, identifying where people are most vulnerable to the disease[22,24,25].…”