One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in a reflective mood. As we thought about the past year - who and what we have lost, how much we have learned, and the ways in which we have been transformed - we decided to focus on just one person who meant so much to us: Professor Gita Ramjee. She died of COVID-19 on 31 March 2020 at the age of 63. This episode is dedicated to Gita's memory.

The excellence of Prof Ramjee’s work and her impact on the global HIV prevention field are well known and documented. She was a world renowned researcher and scientist who was passionate about the right of women to have access to quality services, real choices, and good health outcomes. At the time of her death, Prof Ramjee was the Chief Scientific Officer at the Aurum Institute, having recently transitioned from her long-time role as Chief Specialist Scientist & Director of the South African Medical Research Council’s HIV Prevention Research Unit. She held honorary professorships at universities in South Africa, the UK, and the US. In 2012 she was honored with the International Microbicide Conference’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A few years later, in 2018, she received the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership prize for Outstanding Female Scientist. When Gita Ramjee died, obituaries were written about her in newspapers all over the world, including the New York Times. Countless fellow-scientists made heartfelt statements about her leadership, vision, passion, and legacy. Heads of global organizations issued press releases about her impact on HIV prevention research. An annual international prize for leading women scientists was developed in her name.

All that said, this episode will not focus on Professor Ramjee's professional accomplishments. Instead, through just six people who knew her well, we get a glimpse of who she was as a person: Gita the mischievous friend, dedicated spouse, caring manager, proud parent, doting sister, great cook, adoring grandmother, style icon, and lover of good wine.

We are tremendously grateful to Gita's entire family for agreeing to this episode. We send them strength and solidarity as they continue to process life without her. We also acknowledge the millions of other grieving families around the world who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.

Further reading:

My mother was a rock in our family, says Gita Ramjee's son (IOL News - April 4, 2020)

Gita Ramjee: a woman who pursued science for the greater good (The Conversation - April 2, 2020)

Guests: Asmita Parashar, Ian McGowan, Neetha Morar, Nelly Mugo, Nikki Klatt & Sibusiso Nhleko

Producer and Host: Maaza Seyoum

Production Assistants: Luis Gonzalez Kompalic & Vivienne Naidoo

Editor: Luis Gonzalez Kompalic

Executive Producer: Tian Johnson

Queries: info@africanalliance.org.za

www.africanalliance.org.za

"Not your typical scientist": Remembering Professor Gita Ramjee

COVID-19 Conversations : The Podcast SeriesBy African AllianceApr 23, 2021