My Journey into Vaccinology: From Goma to Global Health
My passion for vaccinology began in 2023 during my visits to the Flame of Love orphanage in Goma, North Kivu. I went there to care for the children and spend time playing with them. We shared laughter and joy until one Monday changed everything.
After three days of absence due to malaria (I often wish doctors had immunity against disease), I returned to find the atmosphere heavy with sadness. One of the children, ADI, was missing from her usual spot. When I asked, the other kids told me, “ADI is no longer with us.” No one could give me a clear explanation, only that she had diarrhoea that day. I blamed myself for being sick and absent. That moment shifted my dreams. I had always imagined myself as a passionate paediatric surgeon, but that day, I realised my true calling: to become a vaccinologist. I understood why Professor Rudzani often says, “If you are poor, you will die…” What about vaccine equity in conflict zones like the DRC and across Africa, where so many children remain zero-dose? What about parents who cannot afford expensive vaccines? It is heartbreaking to watch children die from preventable diseases. This experience ignited my commitment to fight for vaccine equity.
Joyce with children at th4e Falme of Love Orphanage
Through the Centre for Tropical Disease and Global Health (UCB/Bukavu), I joined the Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS) as part of the global MECOR Program, which builds research capacity in low- and middle-income countries. With guidance from my mentor. I developed a proposal titled: “Prevalence of Respiratory Illness Among Hospitalised Paediatric Mpox Cases in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. “This project was timely, given the Mpox outbreak in our region. I applied for the MECOR Africa small grant and was awarded it.
PATS-MECOR 2025 - faculty and students
Recently, I had the privilege of attending the 20th Annual African Vaccinology Course (AAVC) organised by Vaccines for Africa from November 3 to 7, 2025. It was a fantastic week. The AAVC aims to strengthen immunisation strategies across Africa by addressing historical contexts and current challenges. The 2025 objectives focused on improving vaccine accessibility, reinforcing public health systems, and engaging communities to ensure equitable immunisation. After that week, my commitment to vaccinology doubled. There is still much to do, but we can only succeed if everyone brings their contribution to the fire. Together, we can reach every zero-dose child and make vaccine equity a reality. No child should die from a preventable disease. Every child deserves a healthy, happy life.
Today, I am halfway through completing my MSc in Medical Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. My dream is to become a leading expert in vaccinology and contribute to building robust immunisation systems across Africa. I am ready to move forward to the next step in my vaccinology journey.