On April 18, 2024, the Ifakara Health Institute hosted a farewell dinner at the Ramada Hotel in Dar es Salaam to honor outgoing members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) who completed their terms recently.

The Ifakara Chief Executive Director, Dr. Honorati Masanja, gave opening remarks and welcomed guests to the gathering. Among the outgoing members is Prof. Charles Mgone, who served as the Chairperson of the BOT and Prof. Esther Mwaikambo who served as the Chairperson of the IRB.

Both outgoing chairpersons were afforded the opportunity to share their reflections, followed by heartfelt farewells from other departing members.

Prof. Mgone expressed his gratitude to Ifakara and its dedicated teams, with whom he has closely collaborated for the past six years, for their unwavering support. He proceeded to highlight his appreciation for the diligent efforts of the CED in propelling Ifakara forward.

Prof. Mwaikambo expressed her deep admiration for the exemplary work being carried out by the "carefully chosen" members of the Institute's IRB. She extended her best wishes to the incoming members and assured them of her ongoing support.

Fortunata Temu, an outgoing BOT member, also shared farewell remarks that emphasized the “resilience” shown by Ifakara scientists, evidenced by the large number of good quality research work being done at the Institute. She closed by expressing her gratitude for being “part of Ifakara’s story and success so far.”

In conclusion, Dr. Masanja conveyed gratitude on behalf of Ifakara management for the invaluable "wisdom" imparted by the boards throughout the years. He further emphasized that Ifakara has encountered "no major issues" in recent years, underscoring the positive impact of the IRB in safeguarding the interests of both the public and the Institution.

Each outgoing member received a token of appreciation for their dedicated service, presented to them by Prof. Said Aboud, the Chairperson of the Ifakara Board of Governors, and Dr. Masanja. The occasion not only celebrated past achievements but also sparked excitement for the journey ahead.

 >>  View more photos from the event here.