SWF's Krystal Azelton published in Cambridge University Press for analysis of halted polio transmission in Nigeria

Friday, May 5, 2023

Krystal Azelton, Director of Space Applications Programs at Secure World Foundation, played a critical role in producing a paper published by Cambridge University Press, which focuses on Nigeria's successful efforts to stop the spread of wild poliovirus in 2014. You can read and review the paper here.

The paper, "Examining the value of satellite data in halting transmission of polio in Nigeria: A socioeconomic analysis," highlights how using satellite data to create better maps and population estimates was a game-changer in planning vaccination campaigns that ultimately helped Nigeria achieve this remarkable milestone. By comparing satellite data to traditional data sources, the authors found that satellite data led to economic and social benefits.

In just one year, these benefits added up to between $46.0 million and $153.9 million, including savings for the healthcare system and improvements in people's health. Satellite data also helped improve health in hard-to-reach communities and empowered local people. Beyond these impressive numbers, the satellite-based data and methods first used for Nigeria's polio eradication efforts have been applied to other projects, creating even more positive outcomes.