Fighting Yellow Fever: Volunteers’ Incredible Impact in the DRC
Josephine Kipampe administers a yellow fever vaccination during a nationwide yellow fever vaccination campaign in October 2025.
Our community health volunteers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently played an important role in a nationwide immunization campaign to combat yellow fever. The ambitious goal? Immunize 400 people a day for 10 days—a challenge our volunteers embraced with dedication and determination.
The campaign targeted individuals aged 9 months to 60 years, ensuring broad protection across communities. Yellow fever, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, remains a serious health threat in Africa, South America, and Central America. According to the World Health Organization, Africa bears the greatest burden, with an estimated 67,000–173,000 severe infections and 31,000–82,000 deaths annually. While the disease is prone to epidemics, it is preventable through vaccination—making campaigns like this one critical to saving lives.
Leadership and Training: Building Local Capacity
Our DRC programs coordinator and a long-time dedicated volunteer Josephine Kipampe trains volunteers in the Lubumbashi area to administer immunizations, amplifying the impact they can have in local clinics. Her dedication extends to the Kasenga district, where she mentors volunteers like Kamina Mwenwa, empowering them to protect their communities through vaccination.
Why Vaccination Matters
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent yellow fever outbreaks. Each dose administered during this campaign represents a step toward stopping the spread of the disease and safeguarding thousands of lives. Our volunteers’ commitment to this mission is nothing short of inspiring—they are true champions of community health.
A Collective Effort for a Safer Future
This campaign is a powerful reminder that when communities come together, incredible things happen. Through education, training, and action, our volunteers are not only preventing disease but also building resilience for the future.
Ado Kasongo, a Wasaidizi community health volunteer in Lubumbashi, administers yellow fever vaccines.