CDC Kenya International Accolades
CDC Kenya not only seeks to improve policies, processes and practices in Kenya, but to inform public health progress globally. In 2018, CDC Kenya celebrated the praises of multiple staff members that demonstrated impact beyond Kenya’s border. This section calls attention to the accolades received by CDC Kenya staff members from international colleagues and partners.
Director of Diagnostics and Laboratory Systems, Division of Global Health Protection
Dr. Hunsperger was recognized by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia for her pivotal role in the training of African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) medical officers. Dr. Hunsperger led the facilitation of learning sessions on dengue fever, malaria and other endemic diseases in the Somalia region. In addition, she oversaw the activities of a team that provided diagnostic assistance to the Somalia mission on suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic disease. Her efforts were further honored with a Meritorious Honor Award from the Department of State for her far-reaching support and collaboration.
Public Health Specialist, Division of Global HIV & TB
In Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Mutisya received the 2018 Adolescent Health Initiative Excellence Award for her grassroots design and implementation of the Operation Triple Zero (OTZ) program. Her innovation and responsiveness to the needs of adolescents and youth living with HIV was highlighted as exceptional work that has impacted adolescent health outcomes. OTZ currently has more than 47,000 adolescents and youth enrolled and is being considered for adoption by 4 other countries.
Deputy Director for Program and Science, Division of Global HIV & TB
Dr. Ng’ang’a was the recipient of the Lahya Shiimi Award at the annual meeting for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She was cited for “her extraordinary ability to approach challenges holistically with exceptional judgment…managing complex relationships, communicating intricate information, respecting diverse perspectives, and moving groups toward evidence-based decisions and effective partnerships that improve the lives of Kenyans.” She also “inspires, motivates and offers unwavering and consistent sage advice to colleagues as each grows professionally along their journey in the fight to end HIV.”
Director, Division of Global Health Protection
Statistician, Influenza Division
Dr. Marc-Alain Widdowson and Gideon Emukule were recipients of the Larry J. Anderson Award. They were cited “for Outstanding Public Health Science and the Charles C. Shepard Science Award, in recognition of the work published in The Lancet, 2017 on the ‘Estimates of global influenza-associated respiratory mortality: a modelling study’.
Epidemiologist, Division of Global HIV & TB
During the 2018 Centre for Global Health (CGH) Annual Conference, Mr. Anthony Waruru received an award for the best poster presented at the Conference on Retrovirals and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) of 2017. Anthony’s poster looked at finding hidden HIV Clusters to support geographic-oriented HIV interventions in Kenya.
CDC’s Division of Global HIV & TB in Atlanta, Georgia offers quarterly awards to staff around the world for their innovation, impact and success. Three of CDC Kenya’s teams were recognized through this initiative!
All three were awarded the team award for Advancing Program Management and Operations with the Budget Marked-up Tool (BMT) to assist with increased financial accountability for HIV and TB funding in-country. The CoAg Branch was pivotal in tracking financial performance and using data for financial decision-making. The BMT is now being offered as resource to other CDC
Top l-r: April Kelley, Grace Okubo, Rahab Wangui, John Baru, Alice Njoroge, Ruth Kuria; Bottom l-r: Emmanuel Okumu, Bernard Warui, Cherubinus, Aroro, Carolina Granados, and Jacob Okal
CDC Kenya Laboratory Branch was awarded the team award for Making Significant Contributions to Advancing Program and Science due to their leadership with implementing a remote login system to link health facilities and testing laboratories. This innovation reduces the turn-around-time from samples collection to the receipt of results at facilities thereby improving patient management.
Top l-r: Margaret Mburu, Mercy Njeru, Frank Basiye, Dr. Marie Downer, Frankline Mboya, Bottom l-r: Dr. Muthoni Junghae, Raphael Ondondo, Dr. Jane Mwangi, Catherine Macharia, Dr. Daniel Kimani, Dr. Ernest Makokha
