Day1: Working as an Independent Monitor in the ongoing WHO Measles immunization process in a remote area

I never knew this will come so soon and fast. I never planned for it. It was actually my husband that was supposed to go for this immunisation, but due to his work schedule, I was told to go and represent him instead.

Yes, these is an ongoing Measles immunization in my country and citizens who qualify are engaged to take part in various aspects of the process but I am one of the independent monitors who is deployed to one local government area of Akwaibom State, precisely Orue Offong Oruko LGA. I haven't been here before. This is my first time.

The Pre-test, training and post-test process

Because my husband was busy with work, he told me to go for the training a day before the training which was last week Wednesday (9th October, 2024) at the Labour office in my city of residence. I never knew it will involve Pre-test and post-test. I thought it was just training. I only got to know while I was there. I had to brace up.

That day, I concluded my fitness training but I didn't join them in the football game. I left immediately because I was told that I will begin by 9:30 am

The above screenshot was the information my husband forwarded to me.

As soon as I got there, I met them calling names according to our LGAs that we applied from. A kind friend had informed my husband about the process and he indicated interest. But I have the opportunity to change the name to mine because the slot was there for us.

We then were told to download a scanner from our play store, then download ODK app and scan then go to the projector screen to scan the code for the Pre-test. I did and wrote mine. I am certainly not experienced in this because I hadn't done it in the past. But we had those who had gone for such training in the past and guess what? They were busy with the explanations to us.

Well, after scanning mine, I sat and wrote the ones I knew and submitted. I scored 28 out of 50. I was told that the Pre-test is not all that important and that what matters most is the post-test which will be given us after the training. My mind calmed down because I thought I had failed.

The training commenced wherein we were trained/oriented on what we are going to face in the field and what our work involved. We had 4 different trainers. We did the practical section that involved data collection because that is basically what we are going to do.

Then the post-test was given us through the code which we also scanned. I wrote mine and scored 44 out of 50. We were 7 in my own LGA and only 4 is to be taken. I was the highest in the score and so I was picked along with 3 others who scored 36, 32 and 32. Others were sent home. It would have been very disappointing to them because the training took the whole day. From that 9.30 am till 6 pm.

I had a very important meeting to attend other than that training but I missed it. I felt so bad but I was also happy that the day wasn't a waste. At least I got the job.

We were served with both breakfast and launch. Which I loved too because I went straight from my workout place to the vanue without taking anything. So, I was fully fed.

We were given one packet of chalk each for marking the buildings that we covered during the work.

This process started yesterday being Monday 14th October, 2024 for us as the independent monitors.

Since I was posted to an LGA that I am not familiar with, I had to make enquiries and then left my home as early as 5.30 am to be able to meet up. It was an hour 30 minutes ride but we left my city of residence by past 7 am because passengers weren't coming out that early in that motor park that I was directed to go board a vehicle.

getting to the LGA- Orue Offong Oruko LGA

It is going to be a 7 days work and as such, I had to pack my belongings including a little food that I can manage over there. I spent N4100 (Approx. 14 steem at 300 per steem) to travel from my house to the health centre. I got there before my colleagues arrived.

As soon as they arrived, we were given a lodge to put up. It is adjacent to the health centre. We took time to clean the room up and put net at the windows. After which, I got my information about where I was to work that yesterday. I was told to go to ward 001, then to cover 2 settlements and 4 sites. I was directed to meet the supervisor of the team that are giving the immunization so that they can direct me on how to get to that area. I didn't know the place but with their directions, I was able to get there. I collected the data I needed from her and then proceeded to the area where I worked.

• My work involved going to households and inquiring if the kids between the ages of 5 months to 4 years in that household have been given the injection.

• Those that have received the injection are to show a visible evidence which is the card

• Those that haven't received will be guided on how to do so after ascertaining their reasons for not getting the medication from their parents or caregivers

• Then I will use the chalk given to me to mark on the wall of the building. I am to sample 10 children in 10 households and 20 children on 4 sites.

t the site, finger mark on the left is a visible evidence that the child had been immunised.

I did my work as requested, then filled out all the 8 forms as directed and then returned to the health centre to make an official report to our superiors.

This immunisation princess is actually from the WHO (world health organisation). It will last for 7 days both the in-process and the end-process. That means that I will be here from Monday to Sunday throughout this week.

I am going to miss out on my workout this whole week as well as other engagements. Well, since it is just for this week, I had to make alternative arrangements for someone to train my clients.

Arranging for @alli001 to train

Well, the only person I could think about was alli001. I know he is my client but I have noticed the seriousness in him. He takes his programs seriously and tries hard to complete them. I had to put him through on what he need to do.

Hence, for this week, he will be the one to cover me up but I am keeping in touch. For this first day, he did a great job. He was able to follow through on the programs for the week which is full body exercises. I saw in the video he recorded that they did jumping jacks, step ups, jogging and others. I commend him for holding brief for me. If I can be able to train him well, he will be my second because sometimes, I will be out for an outdoor program or any other event which will also require that someone stays back to train others. It's really going to boost the image of my group or club. I truly appreciate him for taking it on.

I have also arranged for him to pick up the Steemit jersey in my possession for wednesday football ⚽⚽⚽⚽ game as I won't also be available. I will keep guiding him till I am done.

Gallery

Here are the pictures of what I wrote above

section 001 - During the training

Nigerian labour congress uyo

_{picture 1: my selfie at the vanue , pic 2: the training hall. Pic 3: the my potion of food for the first meal. Pic 4: the projector screen. Pic 5 is the entrance}

*section 002 - During the training

_{pic 1: the window where we are lodging which I took as soon as we arrived. Pic 2: the floor of the room during cleaning. Pic 3: my colleagues and I going to charge our phone in a charging boot. Pic 4: outside view of our house. Pic 5: the compound. Pic 6: the phone charging booth behind me. Pic 7: on our way to buy drinking water. Pic 8: after the purchase. Pic. 9: their good road network*}

The LGA has a newly constructed roads which made the place easily accessible. But there is no electricity where we are. It means that we will spend money to power our phones. I went with my power bank. To charge a phone costs N150 (1/2 steem) while power bank is N300 (1 steem). Since our work requires the use of our devices, it means I will regularly visit the charging booth and my colleagues are not with power bank. Worst of it, one my colleague's charging point is bad and as such, he will charge with my power bank regularly so as to be able to report his activities. In any case, we will have to manage until the end

As for food, I don't know how I will cope because I didn't even go with any cooking utensils. But I will find a way to manage.

As for the transportation to my wards for my duties, I do take a motorbike to the location and I pay N500 per drop (1.7 steem ). I will be spending much here. I just pray that the stipend will be able to cover every expense I will insure. Things are very costly. Lest see how the rest of the days will go.

Best regards

All pictures are mine. I took them with my redmi note 13