There is a popular saying 'Be the change you want to see in the world', That largely underscores my ethos for leadership because I believe that leadership is personal and begins with me. My undergraduate experience significantly shaped my understanding on leadership. Through various roles and initiatives, I learned that leadership is about collaboration, service, and driving meaningful change, all of which continue to influence my approach to leadership today
During my undergraduate study, I led, a community intervention project to check prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis in a community in Adamawa state: Tahau in Demsa Local Government. After extensive research, I identified the gap in mass-drug administration in this region lies in its lack of data driven approach. Which often leads to drugs being sent to areas where diseases aren't prevalent leaving regions in need underserved. After sharing this information with my project supervisor, I was told to come up with research strategy and contact the gate keeper requesting for his approval for the intervention. However, the gate keeper was not welcoming of the idea due to misconceptions and religious believes. To win him over, I organized a small meeting where I allowed the village head and his team to express their fears about the intended intervention. I then proposed my vision to them, sharing how this disease if not prevented and eventually eradicated it would be detrimental to his people. I also assured them a report would be sent to the appropriate body of government for necessary action to be taken while suggesting that I would collect samples and test them in their primary healthcare facility so that it will serve as a training exercise for the healthcare workers in the facility. I also showed him samples of the questionnaire and awareness creation posters that will be used for the project. This facilitated in building trust and helped in abolishing the believes that participants urine samples are being taken for a ritual practice. A number of 95 children out of 150 tested positive for Urinary Schistosomiasis with majority being male. This was no surprised as the town's main source of water is from a nearby river and the residents were into fishing activities as well. As promised a report was issued to Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency to bring to their notice about presence of Schistosomiasis in Tahau, Demsa Local Government for a data driven mass drug administration practice. This experienced taught me self-fulfillment lies in tackle another person's problem. I believe leadership is beyond achieve one's goal but through bringing positive influence and change to people's lives.
Looking ahead, I believe Chevening is a stepping stone towards expanding my knowledge which will aid me in developing data driven solutions to help in disease eradication and bridge gaps in healthcare across Africa, particularly at the local regions were a number of diseases are neglected.
During my undergraduate study, I led, a community intervention project to check prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis in a community in Adamawa state: Tahau in Demsa Local Government. After extensive research, I identified the gap in mass-drug administration in this region lies in its lack of data driven approach. Which often leads to drugs being sent to areas where diseases aren't prevalent leaving regions in need underserved. After sharing this information with my project supervisor, I was told to come up with research strategy and contact the gate keeper requesting for his approval for the intervention. However, the gate keeper was not welcoming of the idea due to misconceptions and religious believes. To win him over, I organized a small meeting where I allowed the village head and his team to express their fears about the intended intervention. I then proposed my vision to them, sharing how this disease if not prevented and eventually eradicated it would be detrimental to his people. I also assured them a report would be sent to the appropriate body of government for necessary action to be taken while suggesting that I would collect samples and test them in their primary healthcare facility so that it will serve as a training exercise for the healthcare workers in the facility. I also showed him samples of the questionnaire and awareness creation posters that will be used for the project. This facilitated in building trust and helped in abolishing the believes that participants urine samples are being taken for a ritual practice. A number of 95 children out of 150 tested positive for Urinary Schistosomiasis with majority being male. This was no surprised as the town's main source of water is from a nearby river and the residents were into fishing activities as well. As promised a report was issued to Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency to bring to their notice about presence of Schistosomiasis in Tahau, Demsa Local Government for a data driven mass drug administration practice. This experienced taught me self-fulfillment lies in tackle another person's problem. I believe leadership is beyond achieve one's goal but through bringing positive influence and change to people's lives.
Looking ahead, I believe Chevening is a stepping stone towards expanding my knowledge which will aid me in developing data driven solutions to help in disease eradication and bridge gaps in healthcare across Africa, particularly at the local regions were a number of diseases are neglected.