She helped man people to overcome the AIDS. She is the Torch-bearer in the field of Virology. A Renowned Scientist in Life Sciences. Dr. Geeta Ramjee Madam is an Angel God for many who are being suffered with HIV-AIDS.
She introduced technical solutions to eradicate the AIDS from the society and Her research works played an amazing role in lighting up the lamp in the lives of AIDS patients instead of darkness.
5. Prof. Gita Ramjee is a renowned Scientist in Medicine,
Pediatrics, Virology and researcher in HIV prevention.
6. In 2018, She was awarded the “Outstanding Female
Scientist” award from the “European and Developing
countries Clinical Trials Partnership”.
7. She was born on 8th April 1956 in Kampala, Uganda. She
attended High School in India.
Languages known are Hindi and Gujrathi.
8. She graduted in 1980 with BSc(Hons) in Chemstry and
Physiology in University of Sunderland in England.
Madam has married a South African-Indian Fellow
Student Mr. Praveen Ramjee.
9. Career:
After completing Her PhD in Kidney diseases of
Childhood in 1994, Madam joined the South African
Medical Research Council as a Scientist.
10. She rose rapidly through the ranks to Head the largest unit
of the Council, the HIV Prevention Research Unit.
11. She helped in expanding the unit from 22 Scientists staff
to 350 and was instrumental in growing its International
reputation.
12. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the
International Microbicide Conference in 2012.
13. She was an honorary Professor at the London School of
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of
Washington in Seattle, and the University of Cape Town.
14. She was a member of a number of Local and International
Committees including the Academy of Science of South
Africa (ASSAf) and the South African National AIDS
Council (SANAC).
15. Research:
• Madam’s specialisation in
HIV prevention and
Treatment research led
Her to lead the expansion
of phase-I through phase-
III HIV prevention and
treatment Clinical trials in
the Greater Durban area
as the Clinical Trials Unit
Principal Investigator.
16.
17. Madam’s concern is that the focus should not only be on
clinical Trials but also on treatment accompanied by HIV
Prevention Education and Care.
18. In an interview She stated that, “Women are the hardest
hit by HIV in this region, and there is still a lot to do to
address health issues in developing countries”.
19. There is a need for more holistic approach to HIV
Prevention which should include reproductive health care
for Women.
20. Ramjee Madam was one of the first South African
Scientists to work on developing Microbiocides.
22. As an academic, she published more than 170 articles and
was both a Reviewer and Editor of several Scientific
Journals.
23. Madam was in London to deliver a Lecture at the London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine on 17 March
2020, entitled,
HIV: diverse challenges among Children, and Women
in Asia and Africa.
24. But, while return some unexpected happened with
COVID-19 infection and Madam passed away.
25. At the time of demise, Madam was the Chief Scientific
Officer at the Aurum Institute, a not-for-profit AIDS
(Tuberculosis research organisation, as well as Director of
the South African Medical Research Council’s Prevention
Research Unit).
26. Davia Mabuza, Dy.President of South Africa, led the
tributes calling Her a “Champion in the fight against the
HIV epidemic.”
27. As the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS
Council, he stated, “The passing of Prof. Gita Ramjee
comes as a huge blow to the entirety of the Healthcare
sector and global fight against HIV/AIDS”.
28. Mr. Salim Abdul Karim, Director of the Centre for the
AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, praised
Her work for Women, saying, “She was involved in
almost every Major HIV Prevention trial on Microbicide
and defined Her niche in developing technologies for
Women”.
29. The President of South African Medical Research Centre,
Glenda Gray also paid tribute to Her work “She tried to
address the whole Ecosystem that makes Women
Vulnerable, from the Biological to the Political”.
30. The complete World is mourning on account of passing
away of Prof. Geeta Ramjee Madam.
31. We are losing the Elite Human Resources because of this
COVID-19. Let’s kill it.
We have 3 weapons:
– Wash hands frequently.
– Do not touch your face.
– Stay at home.
