Deputy President David Mabuza congratulates Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim for winning the Christophe Merieux French Prize worth R9,6 million for HIV research work

In his capacity as Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC), Deputy President David Mabuza has today, Thursday, 28 May 2020, congratulated one of leading South African HIV researcher and Associate Scientific Director, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, who recently won the Christophe Merieux Prize worth about R9,6 million for her pioneering work in the fight against HIV.

 “On behalf of SANAC, an organisation that leads our country’s response in dealing with the challenge of HIV and Aids, we wish to congratulate Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, the Head of our Durban-based Centre for AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), for winning the Christophe Merieux Prize worth millions of rands, for a study that found that, a Gel of the Anti-Retroviral Drug, Tenofovir, was effective in reducing the risk of women contracting HIV and genital herpes during sex”, said Deputy President Mabuza.

“We are also delighted by the fact that Professor Abdool Karim is also hailed for her sterling work in the production of vaccines for people infected by HIV and how to treat people with tuberculosis (TB), as those are people who are immunocompromised and severely exposed to COVID 19 which affect our country and indeed the whole world”, Deputy President Mabuza mentioned.

Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim was previously bestowed with the Order of Mapungubwe in recognition of her outstanding work in the field of HIV and Aids and Turberculosis research and health policy development. 

She has accordingly, served in various capacities in world bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNAIDS, UNICEF and other international organisation on AIDS policy matters. 

Deputy President Mabuza said that the achievements of Prof. Abdool Karim signifies that our country has once again, demonstrated its capabilities to provide solutions to global challenges and that we remain endowed with brilliant and yet humble individuals. 


Enquiries: Sam Bopape on 082 318 5251

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria