This fellow is deceased. The information provided are based on historical records and may not reflect recent developments.
Dr. Kawango served as the Director and CEO of Impact Research and Development Organization, the Nyanza Initiative for Girls Education and Empowerment, and KISIHOMI Triple D Society.
A Kenyan research scientist, Dr. Kawango obtained concurrent PhD and MPH degrees from the University of Washington, Seattle. She subsequently coordinated the groundbreaking medical male circumcision trial for HIV prevention at the Kisumu site in western Kenya. Throughout her career, she conducted numerous studies on a wide range of topics, including pre-exposure prophylaxis, multipurpose technologies, HIV self-testing, optimizing HIV care outcomes among adolescents and young adults living with HIV, and improving savings as a strategy to reduce spending on transactional sex and alcohol, among others. She also led community-based HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis prevention programs. Under her leadership, her research site conducted multiple drug and vaccine trials.
Dr. Kawango founded the Nyanza Initiative for Girls Education and Empowerment and mobilized local resources to support girls who had dropped out of school, primarily due to pregnancy, early marriage, or female genital mutilation, enabling them to return to their education. She also founded Reducing HIV among Adolescents and Youth (RHAY), a movement across East and Southern Africa dedicated to ensuring that young people's voices were represented in the development and implementation of HIV interventions that directly affected their health and well-being.
In addition, Dr. Kawango served as the Director of KISIHOMI Triple D Society, a community initiative established to promote grassroots development across four counties in western Kenya: Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, and Migori. Through her leadership, research, and advocacy, she made significant contributions to public health, youth empowerment, and community development in Kenya and beyond.
