Strengthening malaria vaccination in Ghana with the power of biometrics
A guest blog from Dr. Alberta Biritwum-Nyarko, Director of Policy Programmes Monitoring and Evaluation, Ghana Health Service (GHS).
As Ghana continues to make significant strides in healthcare, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the fight against malaria. Malaria remains the leading cause of death in the country, and with vaccines like RTS,S/AS01 offering the potential to reduce severe cases by up to 30%, the opportunity to save thousands of lives is within reach. But the challenge remains—how do we ensure that every dose reaches the right individual at the right time?
A decade of innovation: Simprints at 10
Over the past decade, Simprints has been at the forefront of applying biometric technology to solve real-world problems in global health. From fingerprint recognition to other contactless modalities, they’ve been driving innovation to help healthcare systems become more accurate, efficient, and equitable.
It’s fitting that during Simprints’ 10th anniversary year, we are celebrating such an impactful project: a collaboration with the GHS to implement biometric technology in the fight against malaria and improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Biometrics for the last mile: game-changing in the battle against malaria
In partnership with GHS, Simprints has introduced biometric solutions designed specifically for the last mile—reaching remote and underserved communities where healthcare challenges are most acute. Using both contact and contactless biometric modalities, our systems are enabling frontline health workers to quickly and accurately capture patient identities at the point of service delivery. This ensures that every individual is linked to their unique medical record, eliminating the risk of duplication and misidentification.
The result? Reliable, real-time data that enhances the efficiency and accuracy of vaccine delivery—critical for the success of the new malaria vaccine, which will play a vital role in reducing malaria-related hospital admissions. By eliminating errors, lowering the workload on health workers, and improving vaccination tracking, we’re able to ensure that no dose is wasted and that vaccines reach the children who need them most.
Empowering health workers and saving lives
Biometrics isn’t just improving data collection; it’s empowering frontline health workers. With biometric technology in place, health workers can focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks. This is crucial, as it saves time, reduces stress, and gives them the capacity to treat more children, respond to emerging health threats, and deliver care faster.
With the help of our partners—Arm, Gavi, and the Steele Foundation for Hope—we’re scaling this innovative solution to 500,000 children. Our shared vision is to create a healthier, more equitable healthcare system in Ghana. One that is transparent, efficient, and able to make real-time, data-driven decisions that benefit every community.
Looking forward
The integration of biometric technology into routine immunization and primary health care delivery in two regions of Ghana is just the beginning. Our goal is to continue scaling this technology to more regions and countries, ensuring that every treatment, every vaccine, and every dose reaches the right person at the right time.
As we move forward, we are proud of the progress we’ve made and the impact we’ve had. This is a journey of collaboration, innovation, and—most importantly—empowerment. With better data, better systems, and better care, we are setting the foundation for a healthier future for all.
Learn more
- Watch the film about our work with GHS in Ghana
- Learn more about our Projects
- Delve into our evidence base
