Gavi CEO Supports Biometric Innovation in Ghana’s Healthcare
Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, recently visited Ghana to witness firsthand the country’s groundbreaking work in incorporating biometric technology into its healthcare system. This visit highlighted Gavi’s commitment to supporting innovative AI solutions that improve vaccine delivery and health services in low- and middle-income countries.
The Challenge of Unregistered Children
Approximately 150 million children worldwide remain unregistered, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for over half of this number. The lack of reliable identification makes it challenging to track the delivery of essential healthcare services, such as life-saving vaccines, and respond in real-time to coverage gaps.
Simprints’ Biometric Solution
Simprints has developed an open-source biometric digital ID technology that prioritizes privacy. By utilizing AI-driven technology and providing technical support, Simprints helps overcome ID challenges and ensures vital services reach patients in remote areas. In Bangladesh, the implementation of Simprints technology resulted in a 39% increase in maternal health coverage and 19% more newborns receiving care from trained providers.
Enhancing Healthcare in Ghana
Ghana’s health sector has been at the forefront of adopting new tools like biometrics to improve patient identification and streamline healthcare services. In collaboration with Simprints, the Ghana Health Service is using privacy-first biometric ID to track routine immunizations and boost coverage rates. Over 65,000 unique medical records have been created, eliminating duplicates and ensuring a reliable dataset for immunization tracking.
Strengthening Health Systems
Gavi’s support for AI innovations like biometrics helps ensure that critical investments in vaccines reach patients in the most remote and underserved communities. Dr. Nishtar’s visit reinforced the importance of partnerships and technological advancements in achieving global health goals.
As Ghana continues to lead in implementing digital health solutions, the insights gained from this project will inform future strategies for scaling innovations across the country’s healthcare system.
