February 9, 2022
Meet the IAVI 2022 TB vaccine social media advocacy fellows
Using the power of social media to illuminate the urgent need for sustainable TB vaccine R&D.
IAVI is committed to accelerating the development of vaccines for one of the world’s deadliest infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB), and to conducting advocacy for sustainable resourcing of TB vaccine research and development (R&D).
Together with the Treatment Action Group, RESULTS UK, and the Global TB Caucus, IAVI coordinates the TB Vaccines Advocacy Roadmap (TB Vax ARM), an international advocacy coalition of TB survivors, researchers, affected communities, and civil society organizations working to accelerate the development of new, effective, and globally accessible TB vaccines.
The 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines on Feb. 22-25 represents a key milestone for TB Vax ARM as the world’s largest gathering of stakeholders striving to develop new vaccines to prevent TB. In the run up to the forum, IAVI and three TB vaccine advocates representing affected communities and early career researchers are teaming up for skills-sharing and co-creation of a call-to-action campaign on the urgent need for accelerated TB vaccine R&D.
We’re honored to be collaborating with these fellows and look forward to launching a campaign that underscores why the world needs a new TB vaccine! Learn more about these incredible activists, scientists, and communicators:
Cheleka Mpande
Cheleka Anne-Marie Mpande is an immunologist by training with a passion for public engagement and science communication. Cheleka’s doctoral training conducted at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town, contributed to an improved understanding of the spectrum of asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and identified a biomarker of recent M.tb infection. After completing her Ph.D., she pivoted towards career in public engagement and science communication.
Gloriah Moses
Gloriah is an advocate for health and human rights who is passionate about community engagement and leveraging the power of technology and innovation for social change. Having served in various youth representative roles, Gloriah is currently the advocacy and communications officer at the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV in Kenya (NEPHAK) and a member of the Global TB Community Advisory Board (TB CAB).
Krystyna Rivera
Krystyna is a TB survivor and activist from Ukraine. She is engaged in local and global advocacy efforts to end TB through her work as a communications specialist with TBpeople, the global network of people affected by TB, and the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV, and is also a member of the Unitaid Communities Delegation.
Stay tuned for our collaborative, digital campaign! You can also follow along with the forum @GlobForumTBVax on Twitter.