End of secondment report- Syntyche Boman

I’m Syntyche Boman. I’m a journalist and communications specialist hailing from Nigeria.
Before this moment, if someone had suggested that I would end up in a science-related field for any reason, I would have found it utterly amusing. I’ve always been perfectly content in my media and communications realm. To my greatest surprise, I not only found myself here, but I’m also totally amazed at how much I love being in this space! I have the African Research and Innovative Initiative For Sickle Cell Disease (ARISE), in conjunction with the European Union, to thank for this incredible opportunity.
My nine-month secondment program with ARISE at the Escola Superior de Technologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Portugal, guided by the incredible Professor Miguel Brito, was truly an unforgettable experience. My journey has been nothing short of fascinating! From watching experiments unfold in the lab to engaging in insightful conversations with secondees from places like Angola, Portugal, and Nigeria, every moment has been a learning experience. Attending meetings, diving into discussions, and poring over past research papers opened up a whole new world for me. As someone who started with no background in the science field, I made it a point to do my own extra research to really grasp the language.
My work plan for the secondment focused on Communications and dissemination. This work plan aims to share our research findings with our audience in a clear and engaging way. I recently had the chance to chat with some incredible individuals living with sickle cell disease from various countries.
Many thanks to Professor Miguel Brito, who made learning easy for me, And for constantly playing the role of a mediator and interpreter, for the interviews I conducted for Portuguese speaking sickle cell patients I want to give a big thank you to Lucia Ruggeri! Thanks to the amazing materials she provided, I was able to dive into the world of scientific writing and really enhance my skills.
Building on the knowledge gained from this experience, I am excited to launch biannual newsletters tailored to specific target groups. These newsletters will highlight the impactful activities of ARISE, while also raising awareness about sickle cell disease and its effects.
In addition, I plan to create engaging content for the ARISE website and social media platforms, featuring heartfelt interviews with sickle cell patients and caregivers (with their consent). Their personal stories will offer powerful insights, educate the public, and inspire a greater sense of community support for those battling this challenging condition. Through these initiatives, we aim to foster understanding, compassion, and action.
I can’t wrap this up without mentioning just how stunning the city of Lisbon is! Connecting with a diverse array of people from all walks of life truly made my time in Lisbon unforgettable. I managed to pick up a few Portuguese words and phrases along the way. I recently found my passion for photography again and decided to dive back in. I even treated myself to a new camera to enhance my photojournalism skills—it’s all about telling stories through images! Designing all the articles I worked on for publicity was such an exciting experience!
This experience is truly unforgettable, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity it has given me.