In July 2019, I volunteered with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Lagos as part of Nigeria’s national polio immunisation campaign. It was a large-scale public health effort that reached over 51 million children across Africa through coordinated vaccination drives, awareness campaigns, and data collection.
As a Community Outreach and Communications Volunteer, I worked closely with local communities to help increase awareness and encourage vaccine uptake. A big part of my role was breaking down important public health information into clear, simple messages that people could understand and trust.
I spoke directly with over 100 residents, answering questions, addressing concerns about immunisation, and reinforcing why vaccination matters. Each interaction was different, so I had to adapt how I communicated depending on people’s concerns, cultural context, and level of awareness.
Alongside community engagement, I also supported the collection and registration of household data. This played an important role in tracking immunisation coverage and ensuring that no communities were missed. It also helped identify areas that needed more attention, making the campaign more targeted and effective.
Key Skills
- Public engagement and community outreach
- Health communication and behaviour change
- Stakeholder communication across diverse groups
- Data collection and reporting support
- Simplifying complex information into clear, accessible messages
Impact
- Contributed to a campaign that reached over 51 million children across Africa
- Engaged 100+ community members to support vaccine awareness and uptake
- Supported accurate data collection to improve immunisation tracking and coverage
Key Insight
This experience deepened my understanding of how effective communication can drive real behaviour change. It showed me that impact isn’t just about sharing information, it’s about building trust, understanding your audience, and delivering messages in a way that truly connects.
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