Kibra—In the densely populated area of Soweto in Kibra, where the risk of contagious diseases is high, Community Health Volunteer Angela Nzilani has been steadfastly combating vaccine hesitancy. Despite her own visual impairment, Nzilani worked extensively to ensure the community received their COVID-19 vaccinations.
According to a new release by Kenya News Agency, Deputy Director in charge of promotive and preventive health under the then-Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), over 1,500 healthcare workers and community health volunteers have been trained to administer the vaccine and provide accurate information to the public. Nzilani, who is part of this workforce, focuses on 100 households in her region and extends her community health work beyond to include People Living with Disabilities.
Nzilani has encountered various hurdles in her outreach, such as vaccine myths leading to outright refusals among residents. However, she remained undeterred, sharing her personal experience of receiving the vaccinations without adverse effects as a means to persuade her community. She was particularly focused on ensuring that the visually impaired, like herself, were not left out of the vaccination program.
In one case, Nzilani successfully encouraged Michael Wamae, who is also visually impaired, to receive his first booster shot at the AMREF health facility within the settlement. Nurse Modestar Yambasa confirmed that Wamae received both his primary doses of the Moderna vaccine and was scheduled to receive a Pfizer booster. With 180 facilities in Nairobi available for vaccinations, NMS aimed for equitable vaccine access across communities.
Nzilani’s efforts are not just confined to advocacy; she also undertakes challenging physical tasks. She navigates the narrow alleys of Soweto and balances herself precariously over waste-drainage trenches to reach residents. Despite misinformation campaigns on social media, as noted by Dr. Ngunu, Nzilani and healthcare workers provide credible information sourced from the Ministry of Health.
While some residents were hesitant, such as Esther Nduku who initially refused a booster due to misinformation, the volunteers accompanying Nzilani would step in to explain the importance of vaccination. Nzilani considered each individual convinced to get vaccinated a triumph. According to the Ministry of Health’s Chanjo System portal, the goal of vaccinating at least three million residents of Nairobi was within sight, reinforcing Nzilani’s belief that her volunteer work was making a difference.