The Federal Government has introduced an automated National Standing Orders (NSOs) mobile application aimed at improving primary healthcare services across Nigeria. The app is designed to provide Community Health Practitioners (CHPs) with real-time guidance and standardised care protocols.
Developed by the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) with support from the Health Information System Agency (HISA), the platform is intended to strengthen the consistency and quality of healthcare delivery at the community level.
During the launch in Abuja, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, highlighted the government’s focus on leveraging technology to advance healthcare reform and achieve universal health coverage.
He emphasised that the National Standing Orders remain a vital policy tool in Nigeria, providing the legal and professional framework that enables CHPs to deliver standardised clinical services nationwide.
“By automating the NSOs into a mobile, interactive digital platform, CHPRBN has elevated this tool from a static document into a real-time decision support system,” Salako said. “The unveiling represents how innovation, regulation, and collaboration can converge to transform lives and communities. This is a celebration of vision, excellence, and the pursuit of a stronger, more equitable primary healthcare system for our nation.”
Salako noted that the mobile application would improve diagnostic accuracy, ensure timely treatment, and allow for better data tracking. It is expected to be particularly valuable in remote areas where CHPs act as the first point of care.
Describing the app as “a bold and forward-thinking innovation,” Salako linked its significance to the African Union’s 2017 resolution, which encourages the training and integration of community health workers into national healthcare systems.
“For us in Nigeria, this is an important instrument in ensuring that no one is left behind on the journey toward health equity,” he said. “The CHPRBN Mobile NSO Application is more than a regulatory tool; it is a policy instrument for service delivery optimisation, a symbol of inter-agency synergy, and a digital bridge connecting national health priorities to community-level impact.”
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digital health transformation, describing such innovations as “a veritable pathway to secure the present and ring-fence our system for the future.”
He also commended the CHPRBN Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bashir Idris, for guiding the board’s shift from paper-based operations to digital systems, including computer-based examinations, digital indexing, and automated professional development.
“Your journey from pen and paper to digital operations is admirable,” Salako said. “This milestone demonstrates institutional commitment to excellence and innovation.”
He further praised HISA for its technical and policy support, calling the collaboration “a commendable example of partnership that strengthens the health system.”
Salako revealed that the mobile application would be freely available to all registered CHPs, with mandatory usage expected within 24 months. “We will allow a window of not more than two years for training and adaptation,” he said. “By 2027, all community health practitioners are expected to have transited from analogue to digital standing orders.”
Finally, the minister urged CHPs to adopt the platform with professionalism and dedication. “Transforming systems is not just about technology but about people who are committed and knowledgeable,” he said. “It is your integrity and commitment that will determine the ultimate success of this initiative.”
