By Bunmi Yekini
Argentinian HIV advocate Gastón Devisich has been awarded the 2024 Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy. Devisich, who serves as Community Engagement Coordinator at Fundación Huésped, received the honor on October 9 during the HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P) Conference in Lima, Peru. This marks the first time the prestigious award has been given to a recipient from Latin America, recognizing Devisich’s significant contributions to HIV prevention efforts and his advocacy for marginalized communities in the region.
Devisich was recognized for his tireless efforts in engaging gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in scientific research and HIV prevention advocacy. He has been a driving force behind community-driven initiatives that aim to design new interventions for HIV prevention while ensuring that scientific updates are shared with vulnerable communities.
“I was deeply moved when I learned that I was the 2024 recipient of the Omololu Falobi Award because it is an acknowledgment from my peers,” said Devisich. “The HIV community was the first place where I truly felt like I belonged, and putting my experience to the service of others, hoping to make their journeys easier, has always been my main motivation.”
This year’s award ceremony highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by key populations in Latin America, where new HIV infections remain concentrated among groups such as gay men, transgender individuals, and sex workers. The region continues to face barriers such as stigma, discrimination, and legal restrictions that hinder access to prevention and treatment services.
Luciana Kamel, Community Engagement Coordinator at Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas in Brazil, presented the award, stating, “I met Gaston during the Mosaico vaccine study, and his passion for access, equity, and social justice has been evident. He is an exceptional advocate, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
Devisich’s contributions extend beyond HIV prevention. He has been a key figure in the Argentinean Network of Young People and Adolescents Living with HIV, the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Coordinating Board, and South American initiatives in vaccine and cure advocacy. His work, according to one nominator, “ensures that Latin American communities are not left behind in the global HIV response.”
The Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy was established in 2008 by the African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG) and partner organizations to recognize advocates’ contribution to the HIV prevention research field through advocacy.
Manju Chatani-Gada, a co-founder of the award, said, “Omololu was a visionary leader. As we honor Gastón’s work, we continue to honor Omololu’s. He would be proud of Gastón’s passionate advocacy and commitment to linking science and communities.”
The award was presented by AMAG, AVAC, Journalists Against AIDS Nigeria (JAAIDS), the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) and The Choice Agenda. The award serves as a reminder of the critical role advocates play in bridging the gap between scientific research and the communities most affected by HIV.