FG inaugurates digital health app to strengthen primary healthcare

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Automated National Standing Orders (NSOs) Mobile Application, a digital innovation designed to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve service efficiency across Nigeria.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, unveiled the mobile app on Thursday in Abuja, describing it as a milestone in Nigeria’s move toward a digital, equitable health system.

Salako said the app, developed by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) with support from the Health Information System Agency (HISA), converted static clinical manuals into interactive digital tools.

He explained that the innovation aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritised digitalisation as a key driver of transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the national health reform framework.

According to the minister, the mobile application will improve diagnostic accuracy, ensure timely treatment, enhance data traceability, and promote continuous learning among community health practitioners across underserved areas.

Salako noted that digitising the standing orders would standardise service delivery, strengthen clinical decision-making, and empower health workers with real-time, evidence-based tools for managing patient care.

He said the innovation aligned with the African Union’s 2017 resolution urging member states to strengthen community health workers’ roles in achieving equitable access to essential healthcare services.

The minister commended Dr Bashir Idris, Registrar of CHPRBN, and his team for leading the board’s transition from analogue systems to digital operations in licensing, examinations, and professional development.

He also hailed HISA for providing technical support and fostering collaboration that demonstrated the value of partnerships in advancing health innovation and resilience in Nigeria.

Salako announced that the NSO mobile app would be free and compulsory for all registered community health practitioners, with a 24-month transition period before full nationwide adoption in 2027.

He assured that the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen data governance and mainstream digital solutions across all departments.

The minister urged community health practitioners to embrace the innovation responsibly, stressing that its success depended on their professionalism, commitment, and effective use at the grassroots level.

Salako reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring all Nigerians, particularly children, mothers, and families, had access to quality, affordable healthcare under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He described the Automated NSO Mobile App as a digital bridge linking national health priorities with community-level impact, ensuring no one was left behind in the pursuit of universal health coverage.