Participating in the CHANGE Challenge under the mentorship of Dr. Kazeem Adewale Osuolale has been a defining experience in my professional journey. The programme not only strengthened my technical expertise but also reshaped my approach to public health research, leadership, and community engagement.
Through this experience, I developed skills across four core areas: People, Learning, Adaptation, and Nurturing.
People: Embracing Participatory Public Health
The CHANGE Challenge reinforced the value of people-centered research and solution development. I learned that meaningful health interventions are built not in isolation, but in partnership with the communities they are designed to serve.
Our project focuses on increasing HPV vaccine uptake by empowering community health workers and local influencers to co-lead outreach efforts. Working closely with community members, frontline health workers, and key stakeholders strengthened my understanding of:
- Building trust as the foundation of public health initiatives
- Designing culturally sensitive interventions
- Listening actively before implementing solutions
- Elevating local voices in decision-making processes
This experience reaffirmed my belief in participatory models of public health, where communities are not passive recipients but active co-creators of sustainable change.
Learning: Expanding My Scientific and Practical Perspective
The programme significantly expanded my knowledge in community engagement, vaccine-preventable cancer interventions, and implementation science.
As a biostatistician, I have always valued analytical rigour. However, the CHANGE Challenge helped me integrate statistical expertise with practical, grassroots realities. I gained deeper insight into:
- Applying behavioural theories to improve vaccine uptake
- Translating real-world data into actionable strategies
- Understanding the social drivers of HPV vaccine hesitancy
- Designing interventions that promote health equity
This experience broadened my professional identity — from being primarily data-focused to becoming impact-focused, ensuring that data informs real change at the community level.
Adaptation: Bridging Data and Community Realities
One of the most transformative skills I developed was the ability to adapt complex epidemiological concepts into community-friendly tools and educational materials.
Designing and implementing a community-based intervention required balancing statistical precision with cultural relevance and accessibility. This meant:
- Simplifying technical language without losing scientific integrity
- Designing questionnaires suited to low-literacy populations
- Adjusting outreach strategies based on field feedback
- Responding thoughtfully to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation
Through this process, I became more flexible and responsive as a research leader. I learned that effective public health practice requires both methodological strength and situational awareness.
Nurturing: Leading with Mentorship and Sustainability in Mind
Beyond personal growth, the CHANGE Challenge shaped my vision for long-term impact.
Moving forward, I am committed to:
- Mentoring junior researchers in biostatistics, research ethics, and community engagement
- Building strong collaborations with policymakers and health institutions
- Sharing evidence and success stories to influence HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening policies
- Promoting sustainable, locally owned health innovations
My ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between data, community needs, and health policy through leadership that is evidence-based, inclusive, and impact-driven.
Final Reflection
The CHANGE Challenge has strengthened not only my technical capacity but also my leadership philosophy. I now approach public health research with a deeper appreciation for collaboration, cultural context, and sustainability.
Under the guidance of Dr. Kazeem Adewale Osuolale, I have developed skills that extend beyond statistical analysis — skills rooted in people, adaptability, mentorship, and systems thinking.
This experience has positioned me to contribute meaningfully to HPV prevention efforts and broader cancer control strategies, ensuring that data serves communities and drives equitable health outcomes.
