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Supporting nurses and midwives around the world in sharing their expertise, voices, and experiences

Immunization Advocacy Champions Photo Essay: Enabling Immunization Locally and Globally

In 2023, Sabin’s Immunization Advocates program is partnering with the Nursing Now Challenge to support nurses and midwives around the world in sharing their expertise, voices, and experiences in advocating for immunization locally and globally.

Photo: Rafiat Akinokun (Nigeria) speaks to more than 500 health professionals at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), in Qatar.

The second year of the Immunization Advocacy Champions program will bring together six nurses and midwives with innovative ideas on how to utilize storytelling and expertise to help address challenges in vaccine acceptance and demand. They will receive training on how to use storytelling to influence change, as well as mentorship from the cohort of Immunization Advocacy Champions to help them implement their ideas.

Photo: Immunization Advocacy Champion Mohamed Modber (Sudan) speaks about frontline health workers’ leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic at the WISH Summit, in Qatar.

In addition to advocacy activities in their communities and countries, the 2022 Immunization Advocacy Champions organized webinars with other health workers to share their experiences and insight to advocate for investments and policies health workers need to address immunization challenges.

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They also participated in high-level international events. In New York, Amy Staley (U.S.) and Rashid Mang’anda (Malawi) spoke to global health leaders at several panels on the sidelines of the 77th U.N. General Assembly about health workers’ need for support to boost vaccination in their communities.

Photo: Immunization Advocacy Champion Rashid Mang’anda (Malawi) speaks at a panel on the sidelines of the 77th U.N. General Assembly, in New York City.

At the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Champions Rafiat Akinokun (Nigeria), Mohamed Modber (Sudan), and Mpho Shelile (Lesotho) hosted a panel to showcase their work as nurses and midwives, and how they are using storytelling to help other health workers become better equipped to improve vaccination locally and globally.

Photo: Immunization Advocacy Champion Mpho Shelile (Lesotho) speaks about health worker leadership to influence change at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), in Qatar.

Additionally, nurse and advocate Rose Nakame (Uganda) was recognized as a 2022 Heroine of Health by Women in Global Health at the World Health Summit, where she advocated for the need to seat rural nurses and midwives at the decision-making tables because they serve populations that often have least access to vaccines and are vital in controlling pandemics and epidemics.

Photo: Immunization Advocacy Champion Rose Nakame (Uganda) and other Heroines of Health at ceremony in Berlin.

To achieve global and national vaccination goals, health workers must be at the center of decision-making because the impact of their efforts to reach and vaccinate those who are perennially left behind is vital. Read about Sabin’s BRAVE & BOLD approach and stay tuned for the latest news on the Immunization Advocacy Champions in 2023!

Photo: Immunization Advocacy Champions Amy Staley (U.S.) and  Rashid Mang’anda (Malawi) partners at a side event in the sidelines of the 77th U.N. General Assembly, in New York City.