President Cyril Ramaphosa has invited scientists from fellow BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – to partner with South African experts in researching the various characteristics of the COVID-19 virus and its mutations.
Ramaphosa said the initiative would be a contribution to intra-BRICS cooperation “to strengthen preparedness and responses to the pandemic as articulated in the New Delhi Declaration, which was adopted at the 13th BRICS Summit in September 2021.”
“Humanity will only overcome this pandemic if the countries of the world work in closer cooperation by sharing information, expertise and resources,” he said.
The international team is expected to exchange and share information on laboratory, clinical and epidemiological experiences regarding the virus to help clinicians and policy makers in BRICS countries better prepare for future manifestations of the disease.
Ramaphosa has appointed the chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Council on COVID-19, Koleka Mlisana, to lead a task team of South African researchers in genomic sequencing to work with their counterparts from other BRICS countries.
“The collaboration among BRICS countries is intended to broaden our knowledge of the COVID-19 virus not only for the benefit of member countries, but for the global community more broadly,” he said.
The cooperation would take place within the context of the establishment of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre in a virtual format, Ramaphosa said.
South Africa currently hosts the BRICS Vaccine Research Centre and the research on the Omicron variant will form part of the centre’s initiatives.
JN/APA