Since joining CMMB in 2019, Wayne Otieno, our monitoring, evaluation, and learning coordinator in Kenya, has been an essential force—strengthening the reach and impact our lifesaving HIV work with the Global Fund. Wayne’s commitment to understanding and combatting the complexities of disease prevention and treatment, within resource-limited settings, led him the 2023 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). Here, he was awarded the prestigious Young Investigator Award for his transformative research in the field.

ICASA 2023

Of the 2,600 abstracts submitted for consideration, Wayne’s work titled, “Amplifying Voices: Enhancing Beneficiary Experience via Virtual Anonymous Feedback for Adolescents and Young People’s Program in Siaya County, Kenya,” was selected for showcase at this year’s conference.

As illustrated by Wayne and his team, led by Hilary Ngeso, CMMB Kenya has taken on a challenging space in HIV programming and executed it with lifesaving success.

Embracing Challenge as Opportunity

CMMB Kenya, CMMB Haiti, and Access to Health Zambia represented at ICASA 2023Dec

When it comes to community response to HIV prevention and treatment, implementers have struggled to achieve quality and promote accountability, particularly among adolescents and young people. Wayne’s findings highlighted practical and low-resource strategies to harness this target group’s feedback, even when hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The abstract emphasized the importance of involving youth in decision-making processes. From CMMB’s experience embracing this tactic, we discovered simple but impactful ways to improve the quality of services thanks to youth engagement. In one case, an initiative informed by participants, evolved into an affordable, remote monitoring technology called “LiveShare.” Operated through WhatsApp, the International AIDS Society recognized the tool for potential replication in resource-constrained environments globally.

Young Investigator Award: Epidemiology and Prevention Science

Wayne Otieno and CMMB staff accept award at ICASA 2023Dec

Wayne’s award is an incredible accomplishment defined not only by his skillset but also his dedication and teamwork.

“When I think of Wayne, I think of innovation and I think of leadership,” said Julia King, monitoring and evaluation senior manager at CMMB headquarters in New York. “You will almost always find him two steps ahead, asking the challenging questions and embracing new ideas—all to transform lives.”

When Wayne accepted the Young Investigator Award, he celebrated not his personal success but the collective efforts needed to pave the way for a healthier and more equitable world, which his team is committed to delivering.

Congratulations Wayne! Your award embodies hope for the future. It’s indicative of a of a new generation of researchers, dedicated to addressing the pressing health challenges faced by communities worldwide, especially in regions where resources are unacceptably scarce. We are thankful to have you as part of the CMMB family.