World Immunization Week: Community Health Volunteers Protecting Families

Wasaidizi from Kasenga district in the Democratic Republic of Congo gather for training to further develop their skills in giving immunizations.

World Immunization Week, recognized annually April 24-30, and coordinated by the World Health Organization, highlights the collective action needed to protect people against disease through the administration of vaccines. HealthEd Connect community health volunteers promote vaccinations in communities where they live and serve by educating parents about the importance of vaccinating infants, children, and adults of all ages. In several locations, our community health volunteers are trained to administer vaccinations or support local health professionals in vaccination campaigns.

We’re celebrating the lifesaving impact of HealthEd Connect community health volunteers—and the families they serve—by highlighting what consistent, local vaccination efforts can achieve. Over the past nine years, HealthEd Connect community health volunteers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, and Zambia have immunized more than 200,000 people—primarily infants and children. These efforts have helped prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, tuberculosis, tetanus, and whooping cough, strengthening community health and helping save countless lives.

Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to stop outbreaks before they start—protecting not only the person receiving the shot, but also the neighbors, children, and newborns around them.

Joyce Mpungwe vaccinates children at Ebenezer Clinic in Lubumbashi, DRC, where she volunteers twice a week.

Spotlight: The Wasaidizi in DRC

In the DRC, the Wasaidizi community health volunteers continually work to strengthen their skills so they can better serve families. This week, they gathered in Kasenga district for training focused on immunizations and family planning, including hands-on learning to safely administer vaccines. Since January 2026, the Wasaidizi have vaccinated 1,819 infants and children! Their work is endorsed by local doctors and the clinics where they volunteer—showing what’s possible when our volunteers and local health partners work together.

This World Immunization Week, we honor the dedication of community health volunteers who bring protection to the doorstep of families who need it most. When immunization reaches every child, entire communities thrive and diseases become eradicated.

Want to help extend this impact? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn; share this story; and donate to HealthEd Connect community-led health programs that make routine vaccination possible.

Wasaidizi in Kasenga District receive training to further enhance their skills in giving immunizations.