Pioneering Change: How digital tools are reaching the last mile in South Sudan’s health system
With support from the Government of Japan, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and partners are using geospatial technology to bring life-saving health services closer to Underserved children and families in hard-to-reach areas.
Juba, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan – In a room buzzing with energy and passionate discussions, health workers gather around a table, their eyes fixed on a large map. Among them is Rita David Elisa, County Health Supervisor from Lainya County. For her, this is more than just a map—it’s a digital blueprint of hope.
In South Sudan’s remote villages, reaching children with life-saving vaccines has always been a challenge. Roads are often impassable, communities are scattered, and health data is limited. But for Rita, these obstacles are not a reason to give up—they’re a reason to push forward.
In December 2023, when Rita attended her first GIS training, she was heavily pregnant. Despite her condition, she was determined to learn how to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to strengthen health service delivery in her community. That training marked the beginning of a journey that has since transformed her approach to immunization planning.
Right from the first day we were brought for this training, I knew it was important. This is almost the third training I’m attending. The first time, I was pregnant. I delivered my child almost one year and six months ago—but I didn’t give up. I came with my child and was able to work.
Rita has participated in several follow-up training sessions and has been actively involved in data validation, settlement data collection, map verification, and the development of GIS-based micro plans and health facility catchment area maps with different Payam teams from Central Equatoria State. Each step of the process deepened her skills and strengthened her confidence in using GIS, ensuring that no child, no family, and no community is left behind.
For Rita, who is now the proud mother of a healthy baby boy, her professional mission is deeply personal. She is committed to ensuring that every child in her community is identified and immunized using GIS technology.
A New Era of Health Planning
One of the most innovative aspects of this project is the replacement of traditional hand-drawn maps with GIS technology. These digital maps display the layout of critical infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, markets, villages, towns, road networks, and rivers, helping health teams plan and execute vaccination campaigns with unprecedented precision.
This programme will help other mothers access services. I will be an example for women. I will bring my children for immunisation and plan better between fixed and outreach sessions.
In South Sudan, children under five are typically reached through fixed sessions at health facilities. However, children aged 5–10 often require outreach services, while those aged 10 and above are reached through shorter campaigns. With GIS mapping, health workers can now: delineate the boundaries of health facility catchment areas, reducing gaps and overlaps. Identify hard-to-reach communities for targeted outreach. Optimally locate temporary vaccination sites to reduce barriers to access.
“The training we’ve had is really going to help me plan better and work efficiently with community mobilisers to reach more families who couldn’t access services before”, Rita says.
A health officer from the State Ministry of Health adds, “GIS maps are a game-changer. They allow us to see exactly where our resources are needed the most and help us plan our outreach accordingly.”
Building Local Capacity
Beyond the maps, the project focuses on building local capacity. UNICEF and the Ministry of Health have developed a comprehensive user guide for the GIS Micro-Planning Map and launched intensive training programs to equip local health workers with the skills to use GIS technology effectively.
Since its inception in 2023, the project has delivered GIS microplanning maps to 740 health facilities across 20 counties, enabling the reach of more children with essential health services. It has also strengthened the capacity of 438 health workers (317 men and 121 women, including Rita) in using GIS maps for microplanning. If scaled, the initiative could improve access to vaccines for 1.5 million children under five—including 80,000 zero-dose children.
The project’s success has also inspired the Ministry of Health to expand the use of GIS mapping to other health campaigns, such as polio vaccination and the Big Catch-Up operations, further strengthening South Sudan’s digital health systems.
A Model for the Future
“Thanks to the support from the Government of Japan, UNICEF, and our teams on the ground, GIS maps have simplified planning,” says the Director General for Primary Healthcare. “They help us determine the right session types and reach children more effectively.”
As the project moves toward its conclusion in September 2025, Rita’s story stands as a powerful reminder that when innovation meets determination, even the most remote communities can be reached—and every child can be protected. This initiative not only marks a significant step forward for digital health in South Sudan but also sets an example for how technology can help overcome healthcare challenges across Africa.
