Health Storytellers Summit: Students Empowered to Raise Awareness Through Storytelling

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By Taiwo Oyedeji and Sinmisola Ajibola
The Dental Student Association, in collaboration with the office of the PRO, Great Ife Students' Union, hosted a Health Storytellers Summit on May 28, themed "The Content Cure: Storytelling as a Tool for Elevating Health Awareness for a Healthier Tomorrow." The event featured Dr. Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor as the keynote speaker. Professional Panelists in attendance included: Dr. Rachael Babayomi (The Jovial Dentist), Dr. Abraham Akinbami (The African Dentist), Dr. Ifeoluwa Adetula (Team Lead, Zeronoma Initiative), and Dr. Isaac Adeyemi (AskTheDentistNG). 
The President of the Faculty of Dentistry opened the event with a welcome address. He stated that the event aimed to highlight how storytelling can be an effective method for conveying health information, encouraging positive health behaviours among students and the wider community, and also to counter misinformation about health issues.


During his keynote address, Dr. Chinonso Egemba (Aproko Doctor) shared how he started his journey into medicine through storytelling. He found that many people lacked proper understanding of their health. This motivated him to use storytelling as a way to better engage and communicate more effectively. 

He emphasized the emotional impact of stories in health communication. Using examples, he illustrated how personal experiences make health issues more relatable. He discussed the importance of using storytelling as a tool for education. He noted that complex topics, such as mental health, chronic diseases, and preventive measures could better be understood through narratives.

He also shared techniques for successful storytelling, such as using familiar characters and relatable scenarios, identifying the target audience, understanding environmental and cultural contexts, building anticipation, and most importantly, evoking emotions. 

According to him, "Storytelling is a powerful tool that does not allow the mind to know the difference between storytelling and real events.” He spoke on the impact a story has to change perspectives, especially in Nigeria where myths spread faster than facts. He concluded by encouraging storytellers to collaborate, noting that collaborative stories have more reach and resonance.

The panel session offered deeper insights into the role of storytelling in health communication. 
The Panel Session 

Dr. Rachael Babayomi (The Jovial Dentist) highlighted the importance of Storytelling in patient care stating: “If you don't tell stories, it will be difficult to pass oral health issues to patients.” She emphasized how storytelling should be a skill every health practitioner learns to better engage with patients. She also advised aspiring storytellers to balance their commitments by structuring their attention and remaining consistent.

“You can't know everything” said Dr Abraham Akinbami when asked the question of how he keeps up with health trends in Africa as “The African Dentist.” He advised attendees to contact superiors, colleagues and continue learning. He stressed understanding one's audience when telling stories on social platforms. 

Dr. Isaac Adeyemi (AskTheDentistNG) encouraged the audience to start somewhere, be comfortable with being cringe. He also emphasised the mastery of one's and that creators should not hesitate to sharing their content, as long as it aligns with ethical rules.

Lastly, Dr. Ifeoluwa Adetula (Team Lead, Zeronoma Initiative) sensitised the audience about his Zeronoma Initiative, which raises awareness about Noma, a disease affecting the faces of malnourished children. 

The event concluded with the invited speakers being presented with awards in recognition of their impactful contributions. 

Overall, the event set to highlight the significance of storytelling in promoting health awareness and encouraging students to utilize it as a tool engage their communities on health issues.

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