In partnership with the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Immunization Advocates programme, the Nursing Now Challenge is working to elevate the voices and perspectives of early-career Nurses and Midwives with the aim of influencing discussions and decisions on vaccine equity and acceptance at local, national and global levels.
Our Immunisation Advocacy Champions
The Nursing Now Challenge and the Immunization Advocates are committed to supporting Nurses and Midwives around the world, ensuring their voices and experiences are heard and acted upon. Over the coming months, the Nursing Now Challenge and the Immunization Advocates will support the Immunisation Advocacy Champions to develop advocacy activities to promote vaccine equity and acceptance.
Through this work, we will also encourage and support other early-career Nurses and Midwives to share their experiences and perspectives in order to improve policies and campaigns for COVID-19 vaccine rollout and reverse the global backslide in routine immunisation rates.
We have announced our next cohort of winners, the Immunsation Advocacy Champions 2023! They will begin their storytelling training soon, read more about them here.
Vince Blaser
Director, Advocacy and Outreach, Vaccine Acceptance & Demand, Sabin Vaccine Institute
“Nurses and midwives deliver the majority of health services around the world and are crucial gatekeepers for families and communities to make informed decisions about vaccines and immunizations. As policymakers make decisions about COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and routine immunization campaigns, nurses and midwives’ stories can help lead the push for vaccine equity and acceptance in all communities.”
Introducing the Immunisation Advocacy Champions
Amy Staley
Amy Staley
Amy Staley is a Staff Nurse working on an Orthopedic/Vascular Medical Surgical unit at NYP/Weill Cornell. As a Charge Nurse, Preceptor, and Co-Chair of the Nursing Communications Committee, Amy enjoys engaging with other nurses from diverse backgrounds.
Amy is the 2021 Nursing Clinical Excellence Award: Rising Star at NYP/Weill Cornell and recently began her master’s degree in advanced clinical leadership and management at Columbia University.
Mohamed Modber
Mohamed Modber
Mohamed Modber is a Community Health Nurse, Young Nurse Leader, Researcher and global health advocator.
Mpho Shelile
Mpho Shelile
Mpho Shelile is a nurse-midwife currently working as a lecturer at the National University of Lesotho.
Rashid Mang’anda
Rashid Mang’anda
Rashid Mang’anda is a registered nurse working at the Phalombe District Hospital. Rashid is the district coordinator for Maternal and Child Health programme. He is also the COVID-19 surveillance and response focal person. He co-founded a community charity organisation for the elderly – Centre for Elderly Support-Malawi.
Rose Nakame
Rose Nakame
Rose Nakame is a registered nurse and the Executive director of REMI East Africa, a health equity NGO.
Shagul Hassan
Shagul Hassan
Shagul Hassan is a nurse from Erbil, Iraq. She is currently studying for her master’s degree.
Rafiat Akinokun
Rafiat Akinokun
Rafiat Akinokun is a registered nurse and midwife working in Ilorin, Nigeria to deliver immunisation and maternal and child health services.
