Takura Mangwiro

[Africa Clinical Research Network @acrnhealth]

Community-led Innovation in Action: Mutala at the Community Engagement Network Forum 2025

At the current Community Engagement Network Forum 2025 in Cape Town, our Community Engagement Officer, Takura Mangwiro presented how Mutala, ACRN's primary clinical trial site, is applying insights from the Zimbabwe Engage Study to strengthen participant recruitment for the @IAVI C114 HIV Vaccine Trial.

The Engage Study, social-behavioral research, explored community perceptions around HIV vaccine trials, revealing key barriers such as stigma, fear of vaccine-induced seroconversion, and family opposition. These insights have been crucial in informing Mutala's engagement strategies and ensuring that participant recruitment is responsive to real community needs.

Guided by this study, Mutala has adopted a community-driven approach—partnering with Harare City health promoters, engaging potential participants multiple times, using consistent information, education and communication (IEC) materials, and encouraging open dialogue with family and community members. These strategies ensure recruitment is ethical, inclusive, and aligned with real community needs.

Mutala’s experience reinforces that community-led approaches are not optional—they are essential to the success of clinical research. By listening to communities, addressing concerns with transparency and leveraging trusted local structures, Mutala continues to strengthen its role as a partner in advancing HIV vaccine research in Zimbabwe and beyond.

The forum, coordinated by IAVI, brought together key partners including DTHF, PHRU, AHRI, and others committed to advancing ethical, community-centered research across Africa.

[Africa Clinical Research Network @acrnhealth]

During our Kigali tour, we arranged a visit for industry partners to the Centre for Family Health Research (CFHR). Executive Director Julien Nyombayire explained how CFHR's industry-sponsored trials have helped expand vaccine access for pregnant women.

[Africa Clinical Research Network @acrnhealth]

ACRN officially launched
#ACRN was formally launched on March 3 in Kigali, Rwanda, during the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC), attended by government officials, medical representatives, scientists, and industry partners.
#lifesciences #clinicaltrials

[Africa Clinical Research Network @acrnhealth]

A delegation from the pharmaceutical industry, led by ACRN, met today in Kigali with Prof. Emile Bienvenue, the Director-General of the Rwanda Food & Drug Authority (#RFDA), and his team.

[Ministry of Health | Rwanda @RwandaHealth]

This afternoon, Minister @nsanzimanasabin met with a delegation from the @gatesfoundation and the Africa Clinical Research Network (@ACRNcoms) to discuss potential areas of collaboration in advancing clinical research. This partnership is key to transforming health systems, both in Rwanda and across the continent.

[CORAH FM @CorahOnline]

@TariroMakadzang presenting on the epidemiology and trends of acute respiratory infections in Zimbabwe.
@MoHCCZim @healthtimeszim @paulinechateuk1 @jandras08 @AssociationSeke @cv_zim @la_facade12 @hejazofficial @CanEmbZimbab @TsitsiMashiri @ZimMediaNexus @NtepeRadio

[CORAH FM @CorahOnline]

@Takuratk of @MutalaTrust_zw says there is need to debunk the misinformation surrounding the use of human papillomavirus vaccines in communities.
@IRIglobal @TariroMakadzang @MoHCCZim @cv_zim @healthtimeszim @la_facade12 @paulinechateuk1 @TsitsiMashiri @HarareResidents

[CORAH FM @CorahOnline]

Be ready for updates from the vaccine-preventable disease data sharing symposium hosted by Mutala Trust.
@TariroMakadzang @healthtimeszim @MoHCCZim @cv_zim @signsofhopezim @ChraHarare @TsitsiMashiri @cv_zim @GenHealthZW @VaccinesKenya @NtepeRadio @ZacrasOnline

[Takura Mangwiro @Takuratk]

Zimbabwe Advised To Adopt Annual Covid-19 Vaccination That Covers New Strains For High Risk Groups Amid Waning Vaccine Effectiveness https://t.co/frlnTIZx6T via @healthtimeszim

[Takura Mangwiro @Takuratk]

@monalisa123132 Hey send me more of yours