April 22, 2019
Mitchell Warren is Executive Director at AVAC.
It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I share the news that Manasseh Phiri passed away earlier today in Lusaka.
Manasseh was a dear friend and partner: a doctor, writer and radio journalist, activist, advocate, mentor and farmer! Such a long list of roles, each which he managed with passion, courage, wisdom, intelligence and humor.
Many AVACers and partners had the chance to learn from him, enjoy time with him, and be challenged by him at various meetings, workshops and Partners’ Forums. He was also a leading voice in the establishment of AfNHi.
Even when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and went through many rounds of treatment, he continued to be a passionate AIDS advocate – while also establishing the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Zambia so that he could channel his public health, person-centered commitment to HIV/AIDS and to prostate cancer.
He will be sorely missed on so many levels.