Two Indian-origin public health scientists receive South Africa’s highest civilian honors

Professors Salim Abdul Karim and Kirtan Dada were formally awarded the prestigious Order of Mapungubwe by President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria on Tuesday.

This specific order recognizes South African citizens who have achieved excellence and distinction in the direct benefit of South Africa and the international community.

Karim was awarded the Mapungubwe Gold Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to medical science and public health, in particular his pioneering research on the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and his outstanding leadership in the development of national health policy.

The Minister of National Order paid special tribute to his “tireless leadership and rapid response during the Covid-19 pandemic”, which grounded South Africa’s early response in rigorous, data-driven science.

As director of the South African AIDS Research Program and a professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Abdul Karim’s work bridges the gap between the laboratory bench and community clinics, the report said.

Although Karim was unable to receive the award in person, he expressed deep humility for the national honor and said it was shared by his team members and even the patients in the study.

Dheda was awarded the Mapungubwe Silver Medal in recognition of his pioneering scientific research in the field of pulmonology, which revolutionized the clinical and public health management of tuberculosis and drug-resistant respiratory infections.

The president praised Deda as “a highly regarded international expert who has combined cutting-edge research with clinical prowess to achieve numerous scientific breakthroughs and influence public health policy in many countries.”

Dheda is based at the University of Cape Town where she holds the DSTI-NRF Research Chair in Interrupting Antimicrobial Resistance Amplification, is also Head of the Pulmonology and Respiratory Unit at the historic Groote Schuur Hospital, and leads the Center for Pulmonary Infection and Immunity at the UCT Lung Institute.

Upon receiving the award, Dheda said the award is a powerful catalyst for future grassroots innovation and that the National Medal “inspires me to continue working on TB diagnostic innovation in my local community. Science is shaped by teams, partners and patients, and I see this as emblematic of our collective efforts to bring health equity to high-burden areas.”

President Ramaphosa said: “The achievements of all this year’s recipients are testament to our country’s growing international standing as a global center for scientific and medical best practice.”

This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.