Blantyre, 13th December 2024 — The Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme (MLW) Clinical Department held its much-anticipated end-of-year meeting on Friday, 13^th December 2024 at the Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre.

The event brought together over 120 clinical staff, including nurses, clinicians, and researchers, for a day of celebration, reflection, and recognition of outstanding achievements.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the department to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and challenges, while also celebrating the hard work and dedication of its team members.

Vella Kaudzu, the Clinical Department Manager, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the significance of collaboration in achieving both organizational and personal goals. “Together, we can achieve more,” Vella said in her address, urging staff to uphold core values and ethical standards in their clinical and research activities.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the recognition of several individuals and teams for their exceptional contributions throughout the year. The following awardees were celebrated for their outstanding efforts: Best Nurse of the Year was awarded to Rosaleen Ng’oma; Best Clinician of the Year went to Nedson Chasweka; Best Study Team Lead was Alice Kusakala; Best Inspiring Nurse/Clinician was Thandizo Malemia; Innovative Nurse/Clinician was Hellen Mangochi; the Best Study Team of the Year was the Breathe Study Team, which included Monica Kamwana, Memory Honde, Mphatso Meja, Triphonia Kamlanje, Promise Chitheka, and Wezzie Kalua; CPD Compliant Nurses/Clinicians included Diana Kacheri and Annie Joabe; Most Dedicated/Flexible and Resilient Personality was awarded to Charles Zambezi; Honest and Open Personality of the Year was Martha Moyo; the Always Available Personality was Wezzie Newa; and the Most Improved Nurse/Clinician was Memory Honde.

The most notable recognition of the day was awarded to Nedson Chasweka, who was honored as the Best Clinician of the Year and Rosaleen Ng’oma who was named Best Nurse of the year. Reflecting on his achievement, Chasweka expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am truly grateful for this recognition. It motivates me to continue making significant contributions to clinical research and supporting the growth of our department.”

In her message to the department, Kaudzu expressed her gratitude for the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the clinical staff. “This meeting is a way of recognizing your immense contributions toward the success of MLW’s clinical research,” she remarked. “We are proud of all the work that has been accomplished, and we look forward to even greater achievements in the coming year.”

Among others,  Clinical Department Manager extended her thanks to MLW management for their continued support in making the event possible, and encouraged further collaboration in the future. She also expressed hope that next year’s event would see a representative from the management team present, underscoring the importance of recognizing and supporting the hard work of the clinical department.

The end-of-year meeting was a resounding success, reflecting the commitment and passion of the team that drives clinical research forward at MLW. The awards highlighted not only individual and team achievements but also the collaborative spirit that is essential to the program’s ongoing success.