SA Epidemiologist Prof Salim Karim Joins WHO Science Council
- South Africa’s finest scientist Professor Salim Abdool Karim has been appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO)
- The veteran epidemiologist recently resigned from his job as the country's co-chairperson of the Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee before getting a job with the WHO
- Meanwhile, SAMRC's Professor Glenda Gray wished the veteran medic the best of luck as she also congratulated him for his job with the massive international organsisation
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The former President and CEO of the South African Medical Council (SAMRC) and now Director of the HIV-TB Pathogenesis and Treatment Research Unit, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, will now serve in one of the highest health monitoring bodies in the world.
Karim will serve in the World Health Organisation's Science Council that was launched earlier in April and will seek to provide help and guidance on the science and research strategy of the organization.
According to a press release from the SAMRC, the council consists of nine members including top experts who are acknowledged from around the world.
It is also reported that the experts represent a broad range of disciplines encompassing many aspects of science – from basic research to public health implementation science.
Said Karim upon his appointment:
“Pandemics such as AIDS and Covid-19 have highlighted the important role of science in global health. I am looking forward to participating in this Council providing scientific advice to WHO on future developments in health that the world needs to be better prepared for.”
Moreover, SAMRC’s president and CEO, Professor Glenda Gray has since wished the South African scientist the best of luck, saying South Africa has top scientists. She added:
“This global recognition of the hard-working Prof Abdool Karim is testimony yet again of the calibre of health professionals and the high level of expertise that we have in South Africa. As the SAMRC and the broader science community in the country, we are very proud and will continue supporting him in this venture for the improvement of the lives of people.”
Source: Twitter
Just last month, Karim recently resigned from his role as the co-chairperson of the Covid-19’s ministerial advisory committee.
Briefly News reported that Prof Salim Abdool Karim had gone viral in a non-Covid-19 way. He explained that the SA variant of Covid-19 should not be called that.
He said that the mutated strain of the Covid-19 virus 501Y.V2 might not have emanated from South Africa and that it was just discovered in the country. He pleaded with the world to call it by its real name Covid-19 variant 501Y.V2 during an interview on CNN.
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Source: Briefly News
