- President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Professor Salim Abdool Karim on being the joint winner of the 2020 John Maddox Prize.
- Karim received the award with the US's Dr Anthony Fauci for standing up for science during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Ramaphosa said it was an outstanding achievement and international recognition of Karim's contribution to science and to SA's national response to Covid-19.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his warmest congratulations to epidemiologist and chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, on being awarded the 2020 John Maddox Prize.
The prize was jointly awarded to him and Dr Anthony Fauci from the US for standing up for science during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The prize, which has been awarded annually since 2012, is a joint initiative of the charity Sense about Science and the leading international scientific journal Nature.
It is an honour to congratulate Prof Karim on being awarded the 2020 John Maddox Prize, an outstanding achievement and international recognition of his contribution to science and to our national response to #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/rkVRpuYcm4
— Cyril Ramaphosa ???? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) December 17, 2020
Ramaphosa said the John Maddox Prize recognised the two scientists' work as prominent government advisors on health during the Covid-19 pandemic, and their exceptional communication of the science behind Covid-19 to the public and policymakers.
In recent decades, both scientists have also provided leadership in their respective countries' response to HIV and Aids.
"It is an honour to congratulate Professor Karim on an outstanding achievement and international recognition of his contribution to science and to our national response to Covid-19," Ramaphosa said on Thursday.
"As an advisor in official forums and as an ambassador for science, Professor Karim has richly influenced our response to this pandemic, and enabled public understanding of Covid-19 through his clear and endearing communication of the science behind this global challenge to human health.
Ramaphosa also congratulated Abdool Karim and his spouse, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim – the globally acclaimed HIV and Aids researcher and epidemiologist - on receipt of the Chilean government's 500 Years of the Strait of Magellan Award.
With this award, Chile honours innovators who, through their research or actions, have contributed to the provision of solutions to global needs.
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