Africa's displacement burden is no longer episodic; it is structural. West and Central Africa alone now hosts 12.7 million forcibly displaced or stateless people, a rise of 48% since 2020, while Eastern and Southern Africa carries a further 25.1 million, including 18.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) concentrated in eastern DR Congo, Sudan, and the Horn. Health information systems built for settled populations were never designed to track people who cross administrative boundaries every few months. That mismatch, not a shortage of technology, is the core constraint.
WHERE DIGITAL TOOLS GENUINELY ADD VALUE
The realistic opportunities are narrower than the literature often implies, including portable digital health records that follow a displaced person across camps and borders; SMS- and USSD-based disease surveillance in low-connectivity settings; and interoperable data-sharing protocols between host-country ministries of health and UNHCR operational platforms. In our own engagement drafting the African Refugee Council's institutional strengthening framework, health information management is costed as a distinct pillar precisely because it cannot be treated as an add-on to shelter or nutrition programming.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT CANNOT BE OUTSOURCED TO TECHNOLOGY
Three issues recur namely: consent obtained under conditions of dependency is not fully voluntary consent; biometric and health data collected for protection purposes can migrate into immigration enforcement without the person's knowledge; and data custodianship after camp closure or repatriation is rarely specified in advance. Any digital health architecture for displaced populations needs an exit protocol for the data, not only an entry protocol.
GROUNDING THIS IN SUSTAINABILITY
Donor-funded pilots that end when the grant ends have taught the field little except how not to build systems. Sustainability here means host-government ownership of the data architecture, national health information system integration rather than parallel humanitarian databases, and financing lines that outlast the acute phase of displacement. Unfortunately, the majority of Africa's displaced populations remain so for years, not months.
CONCLUSION
Digital health communication and health information management have the potential to transform healthcare delivery for refugees and internally displaced persons across Africa, but technology alone cannot overcome the structural challenges of displacement. Sustainable progress will depend on integrating digital innovations into resilient health systems, strengthening cross-border collaboration, and ensuring that humanitarian and development actors work within common data governance frameworks rather than fragmented platforms.
Equally important is the need to place ethics at the centre of digital transformation. Respect for privacy, informed consent, data security and accountability must remain fundamental principles, particularly for populations whose vulnerability may limit their ability to make fully informed choices. Digital systems should empower displaced persons by improving continuity of care and access to essential health services, not expose them to additional risks through misuse of sensitive personal information.
Looking ahead, African governments, regional institutions, humanitarian agencies, civil society organizations and development partners must prioritize interoperable, people-centred and sustainable digital health ecosystems that can function across borders and throughout the displacement cycle. Investments should focus on long-term institutional capacity, workforce development and national ownership rather than short-lived pilot projects. If guided by sound governance, ethical safeguards and strategic partnerships, digital health can become a powerful instrument for protecting the health, dignity and resilience of millions of displaced Africans while advancing universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
UNHCR. (2025, November 4). Figures at a glance – Africa: Mid-year trends 2025
UNHCR. (2025, June 12). UNHCR highlights forced displacement trends, protection risks, and solutions in West and Central Africa.
UNHCR. (2026). Eastern and Southern Africa regional overview.
UNHCR. (2025). Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (A/80/12).
IDMC. (2025). Global report on internal displacement (GRID).
Dr. Uzodinma Akujekwe Adirieje is CEO/Programmes Director, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), and President, African Refugees Council (ARC).
“Technological tools, including computers, search engines, statistical software, AI, and other digital applications routinely employed in contemporary scholarship, assisted in the preparation of this work. However, the conceptualization, analysis, interpretation, verification of information, conclusions, and responsibility for the content remain solely those of the author.” - Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje; CEO/Programmes Director, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), and President, African Refugees Council (ARC).
HIFA profile: Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a leading voice in health education, community health, and advocacy, with decades of experience advancing people-centered development across Africa and beyond. His approach to health education emphasizes participatory learning, knowledge transfer, and behavior change communication, ensuring that individuals and communities gain the skills and awareness to make informed decisions about their health. He develops and delivers innovative health promotion strategies tailored to local realities, particularly in resource-limited settings. In community health, Dr. Adirieje has championed integrated primary health care, preventive medicine, and grassroots health initiatives. Through Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), which he leads, he connects civil society, community groups, and health institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery, tackle health inequities, and improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations. His work addresses infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, climate and health, environmental health, and emerging public health challenges. As a passionate advocate, Dr. Adirieje works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to influence health policy, mobilize resources, and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs). He amplifies community voices, ensuring that health systems are inclusive, accountable, and responsive. His advocacy extends beyond health to governance, environment, and social justice, positioning him as a multidisciplinary leader shaping healthier and more equitable societies. afrepton AT gmail.com