Capacity building for Life Course Immunization: Nankomi Scovia’s Journey.

My name is Nankomi Scovia, a 45-year-old midwife and a mother of three school-going children. I live in Nakasongola district, Nalukonge Village, Rwabiata Sub-county, and serve as the EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization) focal person at Nabiswera Health Centre IV.

For many years, immunization uptake in our sub-county remained low. The challenges were complex; from limited community awareness and hard-to-reach populations to health system constraints that often left us, as frontline workers, feeling overstretched and under-equipped. Despite our dedication, we needed more knowledge, tools, and coordinated support to make real progress.

Everything began to change when Amref Health Africa started implementing the the Saving Lives and Livelihoods project in our district. The project came with a strong focus on strengthening health systems through integrated outreach services. I first learned about it during the inception meeting, where it was explained that Amref’s approach involved district-led, integrated strategies, including planning meetings, outreach support for health workers, and the active involvement of Village Health Teams (VHT) and community influencers.

When I was selected to participate in a life course immunization training supported by Amref, I saw it as an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. The training opened my eyes to the importance of vaccinating people across all stages of life: not just infants. I gained new skills, confidence, and leadership capacity to guide outreach planning, supervise implementation, and ensure that communities were effectively mobilized and sensitized.

Today, I proudly lead our health facility’s immunization activities with renewed energy. With the support I received, I can plan and execute targeted outreach sessions that reach even the most remote villages. I have also learned to mentor my colleagues and VHTs, ensuring that we all share experiences and continuously improve our service delivery. The change is visible. Our community is more informed, and more people are now coming forward for vaccination.

Through this experience, I have witnessed firsthand how capacity building transforms not only health workers but entire communities. When we are equipped with knowledge and supported to apply it, we deliver better health outcomes. This aligns perfectly with Uganda Vision 2040: Pillar 12 (Human Capital Development), which emphasizes improving health outcomes as a foundation for national development.

I am grateful for Amref’s investment in building our capacity. It has empowered me to be more than a midwife, I am now a community advocate for life course immunization, contributing to a healthier, more resilient Uganda.

Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa teams up with African communities to create lasting health change.