Pioneering community educator wins Omololu Falobi Award at Microbicides 2010 Conference
Charles Shagi brings the voices of community members and participants to the research process
25 May 2010, Pittsburgh - A community educator who developed innovative ways to link women in Tanzanian villages with life-saving
HIV prevention information and with HIV prevention research trials has received the second Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research
Community Advocacy. The award was presented during the closing ceremony of the Microbicides 2010 Conference in Pittsburgh, USA.
Charles Shagi, a Program Officer for the African Medical and Research Foundation based in Mwanza, Tanzania, was honored for his significant
contributions to developing and sustaining community engagement and education programs that empower women and their communities to advocate from themselves and
to become vital partners in HIV prevention research trials.
"Bringing HIV prevention research to communities is an essential part of our work to develop new HIV prevention options for men
and women," said Sharon Hillier, Microbicides 2010 Co-chair and a member of the award selection committee. "Charles embodies what this award was
created to recognize: leadership, commitment and passion in community advocacy. He works tirelessly not only to help women advocate on their own behalf
and to become involved in research, but also to educate and empower researchers to understand the needs of women, their families and communities."
Charles works tirelessly not only to help women, their families and their communities advocate on their own behalf and to become involved in research
"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." said Shagi. "This award is important because it proves that people do care about them. It is
the courage of those women that is being honored today. I look forward to continuing to share the voices and experiences of vulnerable women with the research and advocacy communities."
"I urge all HIV prevention researchers to listen to the community. There is need for all of us to change attitude, but especially the researchers and our leaders
since we have a long walk left. Communities should be at the center of research, not at the periphery," Shagi added.
The Omololu Falobi Award highlights the essential role of community advocacy and leadership in HIV prevention research. It celebrates the life and values of the late
Omololu Falobi, a long-time HIV advocate and journalist who founded Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria, was 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 recognizes his commitment and lasting contributions to HIV prevention research advocacy.
"Omololu was a visionary leader and activist, who accomplished much in his too short a life. He dedicated himself to powerful advocacy for HIV and
HIV prevention research in Nigeria, Africa and worldwide," said Funmi Doherty of NHVMAS in Nigeria. "It is gratifying to see his ideals and vision live
on through this award. I know he would be immensely proud of the work that Charles and the past recipients are doing to simultaneously advance human rights and HIV prevention research."
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 his instrumental role in pioneering new ways to bring the voices of community members and participants into the research process.
"Charles' enthusiasm is infectious and he has been committed to helping recruit and mentor new people to the movement to expand the range of HIV prevention
options," said Lori Heise, 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. "We need more people like Charles who can ably bridge the gap between researchers and community members."
Charles and his colleagues have also documented and published peer reviewed articles about their model for community representation and participation in HIV
prevention trials among women. This research is an important guide for those working on community engagement plans for HIV prevention trials around the world.
The 2010 Omololu Falobi Award Recipient was honored at the M2010 closing ceremony with a plaque and a cash prize. The M2010 Secretariat also provided a full
scholarship for the Award recipient to attend the Conference in Pittsburgh.
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The Omololu Falobi Award For Excellence In HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy was conceptualised and the process coordinated by the African Microbicides
Advocacy Group (AMAG) in partnership with AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention Research, the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM), Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria
(JAAIDS), the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS), and the Treatment Action Movement Nigeria (TAM). Financial support for the 2010 Award came from AMAG,
AVAC, GCM, Family Health International and NHVMAS, Open Society Institute in South Africa and UNAIDS.
The 2010 selection committee included Alex Menezes of Brazil, Chibuke Ameachi of Nigeria, Sisonke Msimang and Salim Abdool Karim of South Africa, Cate Hankins
of Switzerland, Lori Heise, Polly Harrison and Sharon Hillier of the US, and Shaun Mellors of the UK.
The award honors Omololu Falobi, a visionary leader who continues to inspire many people and projects. He was a leading HIV/AIDS activist, an advocate for
prevention research, and an exceptional journalist. Omololu made enormous impact in Nigeria and beyond - he nurtured and/or led campaigns related to prevention,
treatment and research; won multiple awards nationally and internationally; and earned a tremendous reputation from all who had the privilege to work with
him. He established the Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria (JAAIDS), co-created the Nigeria-AIDS eForum, co-founded the Nigerian HIV Vaccine
and Microbicide Advocacy Group (NHVMAG), was an instrumental pioneer member of the Treatment Access Movement (TAM) Nigeria and a key
leader of the African Civil Society Coalition on HIV and AIDS.
Financial support for the 2010 Award comes from Microbicides 2010 conference, AVAC, GCM, Family Health International, NHVMAS and The United Nations Joint
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Contact:
Kay Marshall
kay@avac.org
347-249-6375
AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
Source: EurekAlert!
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/avac-pce052510.php
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