ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2023
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. 44,000+ student leaders from 3,300+ campuses across 170+ nations applied to join the Class of 2023. 260+ campuses worldwide (just 9%) in 38 countries were selected to host 4,000+ Millennium Fellows for the Class of 2023.
UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT FAITH OKEI, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2023.
University of Ibadan University College Hospital | Ibadan, Nigeria | Advancing SDG 4 & UNAI 3
Millennium Fellowship Project: Her Life Matters
Considering the enormity of my initial project, I have decided to partner with Hallelujah a friend and millennium to combat the gross lack of information regarding cervical cancer incidence and prevention to young girls in my immediate community (Ibadan, Nigeria). I'm going to be working on the MDG 6 which is to combat malaria, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. cervical cancer is on the rise now and it is the second highest cause of cancer deaths among women, after breast cancer. The surprising part is that it is preventable and curable if diagnosed on time. One of the preventive measures is by abstinence, keeping a good sexual life, and HPV vaccination at least by the time young girls are leaving secondary school. Because this project will be encouraging women, young girls in particular to be intentional about their health, it'll also empower women, hence fulfilling the MDG 4 (promote gender equality and empower women)
As part of my project, I will work on sensitizing young girls on what cervical cancer is and also bringing about the knowledge of the vaccines to them. One problem that may be faced by the government in organizing mass vaccination is inefficient planning. In a bid to help the government, data will be collected in the sensitization programs which I will organize and it will be analysed to provide the government with valuable insights on mass screening exercises. I'll also be communicating the results to various NGOs who havw the capacity to organise these screening programs. I look forward to organising a team and working on this project.
Our hope is too reach about 100-150 young females in secondary schools scattered around our community and hopefully recommend/partner with cervical cancer screening and vaccination organisations interested in our cause .
About the Millennium Fellow
Okei Faith is a 4th year medical student at the College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Faith is passionate about how individuals in underprivileged communities in Nigeria (Oyo State in particular) can have easy access to Primary HealthCare centres and other health facilities close to them, as this is a major issue affecting rural communities in Oyo state.
As a medical student at University College Hospital, most of her education focused on UCH's role in bridging the gap between cheap, easily accessible and sometimes harmful traditional medicine and modern (more effective and sustainable) healthcare. Through her project, she hopes to help the region become a forerunner in health care accessibility, sustainability, affordability and effectiveness. After she graduates, Faith plans to use her work and learning as a physician to serve and bridge the gap between healthcare access to rural vs Urban areas... Perhaps, via finally launching her dream of owning mobile clinics or sustainable emergency healthcare services (with a number) much similar to 911 used in America, etc.
