Africa is worst affected by the HIV epidemic. The concerted efforts of researchers, community actors, policy makers and a whole range of stakeholders have helped change the trajectory of HIV in Africa.
We are starting to record a decline in HIV incidence, successes with adherence to HIV treatment, innovative approaches to promoting uptake and use of HIV prevention tools (both old and new) and more work into discovering ways to increase access to HIV prevention tools for persons at risk for HIV infection.
Few exceptional individuals in Africa invested their lives, careers and resources to achieve this remarkable success towards the path to zero new HIV infections, zero Aids related deaths and zero HIV stigma and discrimination.
Many remain unsung heroes of the goal of ending Aids by 2030. The biomedical HIV prevention forum therefore set out to duly recognise those African heroes whose efforts have made a difference on the continent.
In 2013, Prof Salim Abdul Karim was the first recipient of the award. In 2015, Prof Elizabeth Bukusi became the second recipient of this precious award.
The receipt of the award by Prof Elizabeth Bukusi was different for many reasons. She is the first African scientist woman to receive this award at the continental level. Unlike Prof Salim Abdul Karim who has been recognised by the South African government, Prof Bukusi’s outstanding work of no less magnitude and impact in Kenya as that of Prof Karim in South Africa had been less recognised in Kenya, her home country.
Elizabeth had made significant contributions to the science and the development of biomedical HIV interventions in Africa through active involvement in the initiation, design and implementation of biomedical HIV prevention research conducted on the continent.
She was nominated as the recipient of the 2015 Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions in the development of female-initiated methods of HIV prevention such as PrEP, microbicides and Multi-purpose
Prevention Technologies.
Elizabeth’s exceptional leadership skills include the conduct of leading land breaking biomedical HIV prevention research.
She has been co-Investigator, site investigator and principal investigator of innovative behavioral research that includes structural interventions to address the needs of most affected populations such as young girls, adolescents and members of fishing communities.
She was actively engaged with the landmark study on use of PrEP as an effective HIV-1 prevention infection tool for sero-discordant couples.
She had also been involved in multiple studies on the use of Dapivarine gel as a vagina microbicide in healthy HIV-negative women, and the use of ethanol in emollient gel as a microbicide for males.
These last two researches are studies that are paving the way for the development of safe and topically applicable antiretroviral therapies.
She has extensively published and led many ground breaking reforms on research ethics that have significantly improved the conduct of research, including the recently launched Kenya guideline for conducting Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV research with adolescents.
However, for most African advocates, she is remembered for her passion, integrity and dedication in ensuring that HIV research addresses the needs of Africans; prioritises the engagement of African communities in the design and implementation of biomedical HIV prevention research; and a young generation of African scientists are coached, mentored and deployed to ensure the future of Africa health research leadership is in the hands of Africans.
She has successfully trained and mentored more than 55 young African researchers as postgraduate students and serves as a mentor for countless African HIV advocates.
She embodies the African virtues that represent the ideal of an African scientist: diligent, selfless, resilient, innovative and genuinely committed to finding a sustainable and ethical scientific solution to the HIV epidemic in Africa for Africa and with African communities of all races, gender and social classes.
Such levels of leadership and commitment have necessitated her to wear many hats and responsibilities beyond her working commitments.
Elizabeth Bukusi’s leadership has elevated the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) to an institution of choice for global partners and funders in HIV biomedical prevention research. She has raised more than Sh1 billion in grants each year to the Kemri. She has also revamped the Kemri ethics committee, through an EDTCP grant, obtained a training grant for scientists and is about to be awarded a grantsmanship from the National Institute of Health.
Many young researchers groomed on the shores of Africa call her ‘mama’ because of her motherly touch.
For many of us (Kenyans and non-Kenyans) who have watched and learnt from her how to incorporate national interest into international discussions, she is more of an icon of integrity and loyalty to an African dream of emancipation.
It’s about time that the Kenya government recognises the leadership and legacy of a Kenya Scientist unmatched by her passion, excellence and achievement in making sure that Kenya and the World achieve the dream of a future generation free of HIV. African advocates stand together with Elizabeth Bukusi – the unsung heroine of “ending of HIV/ Aids”.
Morenike Ukpong and Olayide
Akanni both coordinate the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Coalition based in Nigeria. The organization coordinates the organization of the biennial Biomedical HIV Prevention Forum