In many rural areas in Northern Nigeria, immunization timeliness and uptake remain low, affecting children’s health outcomes and community immunity. To tackle this challenge, Sydani developed an innovative solution: the Wristband for Immunization Alert.
Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and awarded through the BMGF Grand Challenges in 2017, the wristband aims to remind parents and caregivers of upcoming immunization appointments by flashing a red light in the week of the scheduled appointment.
Product Design & Development:
Sydani’s design team developed, produced, and piloted the wristband in two LGAs in Kano State. Designed for ease of use and cultural acceptance, the wristband provides a visual alert that is simple yet effective, ensuring that even in areas with limited access to healthcare notifications, caregivers can stay informed of their children’s immunization schedules.
The blinking light serves as a subtle but constant reminder, encouraging timely visits to health facilities. In addition, Sydani is actively working on enhancing the wristband’s functionality to collect and track maternal and child health (MCH) data, potentially broadening its use to improve overall MCH service delivery.
Result: The wristband has demonstrated a 54% improvement in both immunization uptake and timeliness in the pilot LGAs, marking a significant advancement in local immunization coverage. The device’s success highlights its potential for wider-scale application in improving health service utilization and timeliness.
As Sydani continues to explore data collection capabilities for the wristband, the project positions the device as a valuable tool in both immunization and MCH programs, aligning with broader efforts to strengthen health outcomes in underserved communities.
