In Côte d’Ivoire, the path toward universal immunization is being reshaped by the power of data. Through strategic partnerships, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)—with support from VillageReach—is harnessing digital tools to identify and reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, especially in hard-to-reach areas. This shift is transforming how public health systems can use data to drive impact at scale.
A System in Transition: From Paper to Precision
In 2024, Côte d’Ivoire’s EPI faced a critical challenge: how to analyze and act on paper-based census data covering more than 600,000 children. With technical support from VillageReach, the Ministry of Health launched ODEKA, a digital platform that transformed static records into actionable insights.
According to Dr. Raymond Brou, EPI Director at the Ministry of Health, the shift has been transformational.
“We can now precisely identify children registered in specific communities, track their vaccination status and locate their caregivers. Health workers no longer operate blindly—they visit targeted households with data in hand,” he explains.
This transformation marks a deeper systemic change: immunization services are now more efficient, accountable and data-informed.
Reaching the Unreached with Digital Identification
Traditional outreach campaigns often miss the most vulnerable children. Digital identification tools have changed that by enabling targeted interventions. In Abidjan, for example, digital mapping helped identify children who had never received a single vaccine—a first step in closing immunization gaps.
With accurate, geo-referenced data, health districts can act swiftly and strategically.
“We no longer operate without clear direction,” Dr. Brou notes. “We allocate resources more effectively and respond to real-time needs.”
Building for the Long Term
Another key ingredient in this transformation is the deployment of data analysts to support local teams. These analysts have brought much-needed structure to a previously fragmented process, enabling the central EPI office to coordinate district-level action with clarity and precision.
This investment in human capital is laying the foundation for long-term resilience. By embedding analytic capabilities within the public health system, Côte d’Ivoire is ensuring that data will continue to drive impact long after the current project cycle ends.
The Road Ahead
Signs of progress are already visible. In Yopougon Ouest Songon, for instance, the child registration rate jumped by 20.42% in just 90 days. Yet, challenges remain: only 30% of the national registration target has been reached and full integration of data into national systems like DHIS2 is still underway.
But Dr Brou is clear about what’s needed next:
“We aim to register approximately 9 million children. However, sustained technical and financial support will be essential to reach our goals.”
This is more than a funding appeal—it’s a call for investment in solutions that promise long-term returns: stronger data systems, strengthened health workers and healthier futures for millions of children.
Why This Matters
Côte d’Ivoire’s experience offers powerful lessons for governments, donors and public health advocates committed to equity in immunization:
- For Ministries of Health: Digital transformation is a roadmap to better performance and greater accountability.
- For Donors and Global Health Partners: Investments in data systems and local capacity deliver scalable, measurable results.
- For the Global Health Community: Côte d’Ivoire’s progress signals a shift toward smarter, more inclusive public health systems, where every child counts and no one is left behind.
As we look to the future, let’s not see this as just one country’s story. Instead, let’s recognize it as a replicable model; proof that with innovation, partnership and political will, we can transform immunization systems across Africa and beyond.