South Africa’s leading female scientist in the field of HIV has succumbed to the current world pundemic, corona virus aka COVID-19.
The famous scientist Gita Ramjee, died in hospital near the coastal city of Durban on Tuesday,
Prof. Ramjee had been working as the chief scientific officer at the Aurum Institute, a leading authority in the fight against HIV and TB.
The HIV researcher fell ill after returning to South Africa in mid-March from the UK, where she had been presenting at a symposium at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
She held an honorary professorship at the LSHTM, as well as at the University of Washington and the University of Cape Town.
Two years ago she was given the Outstanding Female Scientist Award by the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships.
South Africa remains on a three weeks lock down to reduce the spread of the deadly virus.
