Delivering life-saving vaccines to every child in Zagua
In Zagua, a quiet community in Tolon District in Ghana’s Northern Region, reaching the next household is not always a short walk. Homes are scattered across long stretches of dry land, connected by narrow paths that cut through heat and dust. Nearly 26 kilometres from Tamale, access to healthcare here depends not just on systems but on people willing to go the distance.
For Selina Agyeiwaa Opoku, that distance is part of her daily routine.
With a vaccine carrier box in one hand and essential supplies strapped around her, she sets out under the scorching sun, moving from one household to another. There is no official vehicle assigned to her outreach. On most days, she borrows a motorcycle from a neighbour, balancing cold boxes, registers, and medical supplies in a careful but difficult arrangement.
“It’s not easy carrying everything on the motorbike. Sometimes I worry about the vaccines, sometimes about the road, but I keep going because I know children are waiting”, Selina says.
Her work reflects a side of vaccination that is rarely seen. While the success of vaccination campaigns are often measured in numbers - coverage rates, doses administered, targets achieved - the effort behind each dose is carried by health workers like Selina, working quietly in hard-to-reach communities.
Selina did not grow up in Zagua. She lived in Accra, Ghana’s capital, where opportunities are more accessible and careers easier to build. But after completing her training in Kintampo in the Bono Region, she was posted to the Northern Region, a decision that would define her path. Since then, she has become a familiar and trusted presence in Zagua. Over time, the community has given her a name that reflects how they see her: “PagNaa” meaning “Woman King” in Dagbani.
They see her not just as a health worker, but as someone who shows up, consistently and without hesitation. “Selina does not wait for us to come to the clinic. She comes to us. Because of her, many of us are able to keep up with our children’s vaccinations. She explains everything and makes sure no child is missed”, said Sakina Shani, a mother in the community.
Selina’s commitment goes beyond physical outreach. Outside her fieldwork, she uses TikTok as a platform for health advocacy, sharing messages on immunization and highlighting the realities of delivering healthcare in underserved communities. In one recent video, she spoke openly about the challenges she faces in transporting vaccines and supplies. The response was immediate.
Her story reached health authorities and followers alike. Soon after, a tricycle was provided to support her work, making it easier to carry vaccines and essential supplies across long distances. Members of her online community also mobilized funds to purchase chairs for the health facility, strengthening the work she and her colleagues do every day. For the community’s traditional leader, Zaguu Naa Yili, Selina’s efforts represent a deeper kind of service.
“She has shown commitment to our people in a way that we deeply respect. Despite the challenges, she continues to serve. We are grateful for her and for all the health workers supporting our community”, he said. Selina has also strengthened her skills through several trainings supported by World Health Organization, equipping her to deliver quality services even in the most difficult settings. But for her, the motivation remains simple.
“When I see a child vaccinated, I feel fulfilled. It means that child has a better chance to grow healthy. That is what keeps me going”, she says. Her story is a reminder that behind every vaccination is a journey, often long, often difficult, but always deliberate.
And in places like Zagua, that journey is carried forward by people like Selina.