Deputy President Mabuza conveys condolences on passing of Professor Gita Ramjee
1 April 2020
Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), wishes to convey condolences on the passing of former Chief Specialist Scientist and Director of the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) HIV Prevention Research Unit, Professor Gita Ramjee. Professor Ramjee succumbed to complications emanating from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Professor Ramjee was renowned for her work on finding HIV prevention methods that were conducive to the lifestyles, circumstances and perceived risk factors that South African women face as well as in the attempts to find an effective HIV vaccine.
She was internationally recognised for her expertise in the field of microbicide research, including receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for HIV Prevention and honoured with the “Outstanding Female Scientist” Award by the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships for her life’s work that has focused on finding new HIV prevention methods.
Additionally, Professor Ramjee was a reviewer and editor of several scientific journals and a member of a number local and international committees and advisory groups, including the Academy of Science of South Africa and SANAC.