“I am delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious Male Early Career Research Excellence Award at the KUHeS 2024 Research Dissemination Conference presided over by the Minister of Health. This award is as result of enormous support I have received from a diverse section of people over the years in my research career. I am thankful to senior mentors and supervisors who have untiredly supported my career progression; MLW senior management and operations teams for providing an environment that promote advancements in research; fellow investigators in various research studies for the collaboration in developing and implementing innovative research; clinical, nursing and field research assistants who are on the frontlines of research implementation. I am also grateful to my wife Bernadetta for the unwavering support!. This award is an inspiration for me to dream more, do more, learn more, and achieve more in improving health in Malawi and the region”