An internationally renowned HIV researcher who specialised in HIV prevention for women. Born on April 8, 1956, in Kampala, Uganda, she died of complications from COVID-19 on March 31, 2020, outside Durban, South Africa, aged 63 years.
Gita Ramjee’s professional mission was to make sure women, especially women from marginalized communities, were not overlooked in the HIV response. “She was a driving force behind HIV prevention among women”, said Wafaa El-Sadr, the Director of ICAP at Columbia University, New York, USA. “She was keenly aware of the magnitude of the problem of HIV among women, particularly in southern Africa and that’s what she devoted her life to.”
Best known for her research on the use of vaginal microbicides to help reduce the risk of HIV transmission, Ramjee also helped build a network of internationally renowned clinical research sites and was a key advocate for a holistic approach to HIV prevention for women. “She was passionate about HIV prevention, about human rights, but particularly about the rights of disadvantaged women”, said Professor Gavin Churchyard, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the South Africa-headquartered Aurum Institute, where Ramjee worked as the Chief Scientific Officer. “She was committed to finding solutions.”
BioSource – https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30941-7/fulltext Other sources – UN AIDS Tribute https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2020/april/20200401_tribute-to-gita-ramjee