Remind Study at INTEREST 2025 in Namibia

From May 13th to 16th, city of Windhoek, Namibia, host the INTEREST 2025 Conference, a platform for HIV research and implementation science across Africa. Among the passionate and pioneering attendees wereLydia Masika, Iraseni Swai and Naomi Lekashingo, proudly representing the Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute (KCRI) and showcasing the impactful work being done through the REMIND studies.

Together, they joined scientists, clinicians, and advocates from across the continent to share insights, exchange ideas, and contribute to the collective goal of improving health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.

One of the powerful moments came from Lyidia, who presented her abstract titled "I enjoyed the reminders, they were useful, but someone read them – Impact of enacted stigma in adolescents in a trial: A case study." Her work shed light on how digital reminders although helpful can unintentionally expose adolescents to stigma, creating emotional and social challenges in their healthcare journey. The relevance and depth of her study were recognized with inclusion in the Poster Guided Tour, led by the esteemed Prof. Kwasi Torpey, drawing attention from key stakeholders and experts alike.

Meanwhile, Iraseni Swai presented her abstract, "Evaluating adherence barriers using Digital Adherence Tools among children living with HIV." Her research explored how digital tools are transforming adherence monitoring while also uncovering the nuanced challenges caregivers and children face in treatment settings.

Together with Naomi Lekashingo, the KCRI team demonstrated not just scientific excellence but also a commitment to amplifying community voices, especially those of adolescents and children living with HIV. Their presence at INTEREST 2025 reflected KCRI’s broader mission, to lead with evidence, care, and courage in transforming healthcare outcomes across Africa.