Charles Shagi of the AMREF in Tanzania country programme has been awarded with Omololu Falobi Award for excellence in HIV Prevention Research.
The award was handed over to Mr Shagi during the closing ceremony of the Microbicide 2010 Conference held from May 22-25, 2010 at the David L Lawrence Convention Centre, in Pittsburgh USA.
Shagi, who works as a program officer with the AMREF Lake Zone office in Tanzania was honoured for his significant contribution to developing and sustaining community engagement and education programs that empower women and their communities to advocate for themselves and to become vital partners in HIV prevention research trials.
Shagi was chosen from among an impressive group of almost 20 nominees by an independent international panel of HIV prevention research advocates, policy makers, and scientists. The selection committee noted Shagi’s instrumental role in pioneering new ways to bring the voices of community members and participants into the research process.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr Shagi said “I am very humbled to accept this award, and for me, it really underscores the value this field put on the importance of reaching out to the women in the villages of Tanzania and around the world who participate in these trials. This award is important because it proves that people do care about them. It is the courage of those women that are being honoured today. I look forward to continuing to share the voices and experiences of vulnerable women with the research and advocacy communities,"
The former Executive Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides and one of the inaugural recipients of the award and member of the 2010 selection committee, Lori Heise said that Shagi’s enthusiasm was infectious, and he has been committed to helping recruit and mentor new people to the movement to expand the range of HIV prevention research advocates, policy makers, and scientists.
Salim Abdool Karim, Director of the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and a member of the 2008 and 2010 selection committees said, “Shagi is the epitome of science meets advocacy. In his work with community, he is able to provide important and accurate information as well as collect evidence that is directly applicable to advocacy and policy,"
The Omololu Award celebrates the life and values of the late Omololu Falobi, a long-time HIV advocate and journalist who founded Journalists against AIDS in Nigeria. He was also an instrumental pioneer member of the Nigerian Treatment Access Movement, and co-founded the New HIV Vaccine & Microbicide Advocacy Society. Omololu was killed in Lagos, Nigeria in October 2006. The award was conceived as an ongoing legacy that recognises his commitment and lasting contributions to HIV prevention research advocacy.
