PROFESSOR GITA RAMJEE: A huge loss for the world

Women4GlobalFund extends our deepest condolences to Prof Gita Ramjee’s family and colleagues. This is a huge loss for the world. Among her many awards, in 2018 Prof Ramjee was awarded the Outstanding Female Scientist Award by the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships (EDCTP) for her lifetime commitment to finding new HIV prevention methods, which work for women given the gender related challenges that lead to increased risk of HIV for many South African women (Huffington Post). Gita Ramjee was an irreplaceable HIV prevention research leader and women’s advocate whose leadership and work inspired many others to accelerate efforts to find a microbicide and other HIV prevention solutions for women. She will be deeply missed. 

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) paid tribute to Professor Ramjee as “an inspirational role model for young scientists including women scientists in South Africa and beyond”.  In this post there is also a link to Watch Prof Ramjee’s final LSHTM seminar ‘HIV: Diverse challenges among children and women in Asia and Africa’ (starts at 00.30.21).

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REPOSTING from the Aurum Institute

The Aurum Institute is deeply saddened by the death of its Chief Scientific Officer Professor Gita Ramjee. Professor Ramjee was a world renowned scientist, who worked tirelessly to find HIV prevention solutions for women.

“The world has lost a bold and compassionate leader in the response to HIV,” said Professor Gavin Churchyard, Group CEO of the Aurum Institute. “Gita Ramjee firmly believed in health as a fundamental human right. Her ground-breaking research in HIV prevention contributed to the global response to HIV and AIDS. Our thoughts during this difficult time are with her family, colleagues and the many people her life and work touched,” he added.

Prior to taking up her appointment as Chief Scientific Officer: HIV Prevention at The Aurum Institute, Professor Ramjee was Chief Specialist Scientist and Director of the HIV Prevention Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council. She held Honorary Professorships at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Washington in Seattle and University of Cape Town.

Professor Ramjee was a critical player in the field of HIV prevention clinical trials and was acknowledged internationally for her expertise in the field of microbicide research, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for HIV Prevention. In 2018, she was honoured with the “Outstanding Female Scientist” Award by the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships (EDCTP) for her life’s work that has focused on finding new HIV prevention methods.

Professor Ramjee has published more than 200 research articles. She was a reviewer and editor of several scientific journals and a member of several local and international committees and advisory groups including the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC).

“The Aurum Institute and the global HIV research community will mourn Gita Ramjee’s passing and celebrate the huge contribution to the response to HIV she made in her life,” said Churchyard.

Issued by: Kanya Ndaki, Communications Director, +27832986100, KNdaki@auruminstitute.org

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