I am the Immunization Officer at the UNICEF office in Gambia. I lead all UNICEF support to the government in the area of immunization. My job is to ensure that all Gambian children are vaccinated and thereby protected from preventable diseases. My role includes:
1. Supporting the development of policies and strategies on immunization
2. Developing funding proposals for resource mobilization
3. Managing and leading implementation of donor grants for immunization
4. Coordinating the introduction of new vaccines and mass vaccination campaigns
5. Forecasting, monitoring and managing vaccine supplies
6. Advocating for increased uptake of immunization services
7. Conducting field visits to monitor immunization activities

A typical day for me starts with responding to many emails from government, our donors and other UNICEF offices in HQ relating to the work being implemented in Gambia. I normally have at least one report I am working on or providing my input to national documents on immunization. I also spend numerous days in the field monitoring UNICEF supported activities, training healthcare staff on immunization or participating in national workshops.

I really enjoy the broad nature of my work and the flexibility I have. There is always something new in immunization (new vaccines, new storage technology, new tools to use) so I am constantly learning and always have something different to work on. I also get the opportunity to travel frequently both in country and to other countries mainly in Africa.

The most challenging part of my job is finding the time to be able to adequately respond and provide the support requested from the different numerous stakeholders I work with. There is a lot of pressure at times to meet reporting deadlines particularly to donors and HQ and expectations of UNICEF from government are very high so I always have to be prepared and well-informed.

I have always been interested in public health and children. This work combines the two and gives me the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of the health of children, providing them with life-long protection from key diseases.

My background in Public Health provides me with a strong overview of how the health system functions, particularly in the development context. Strong analytical and communication skills are very important. Finally I have to plan and organize my time well and the ability to work with people effectivity is crucial.

After completing both my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at University of Sheffield, I completed a short course at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and a French language course in France before returning home to Gambia. I initially started as an intern at the Ministry of Health under the National Immunization Programme for 6 months and later moved to UNICEF Gambia as a United Nations Volunteer supporting the Health section. During this time, I worked closely with several departments and covered staff who were absent for extended periods. After 2 years, I was hired as an Immunization Officer. I have completed numerous other short training courses provided by UNICEF and other higher education institutions contributing to my continuous professional development.

I hope to continue growing professionally in the area I work. I have a particular interest in immunization supply chains and would like to focus my work more in this area and perhaps enroll in a PhD programme.

Don't limit yourself to a niche area. A lot of opportunities may come your way that don't fit your initial ideas of what you want to do. However these can often lead you to great places. Also no opportunity is too small, an internship or a volunteer role will give you an entry point into the organization even if you feel overqualified for that role. Finally, be prepared to learn quickly and demonstrate your contribution to the organization very early on. Once your potential and drive is clear, the organization will not let you go.