One of South Africa’s award-winning scientists, Salim Abdool Karim has stepped down from his co-chairing role in the country’s coronavirus advisory team, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed on Thursday.
The minister appointed Karim as chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on Covid-19 on 23 March 2020 – three weeks after the country’s first coronavirus case was confirmed on 5 March – and then as co-chair of a revised MAC constituted in September 2020.
The MAC was formed to provide scientific guidance to Mkhize, producing dozens of advisories on subjects ranging from mask wearing to imposing restrictions aimed at slowing transmission of the disease.
According to the minister, Karim wrote him in February this year to inform him that he would be stepping down from the MAC on the first anniversary of his term.
“We thank Professor Abdool Karim for answering the call to serve and remaining steadfast throughout his tenure as a leader in the fight against Covid-19,” the minister said.
In his resignation letter, Karim said he had stepped down from his role as Mkhize’s coronavirus adviser in order to return to his work as an academician, and at the same time, to resume his HIV research assignment.
The internationally acclaimed scientist holds positions at the University of Columbia (New York), University of Cornell (New Jersey) and Harvard University (Massachusetts) – academic institutions under the United States’ much-touted Ivy League.
Karim currently heads the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa which is based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal – where he also holds the position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor for research.
Karim paid tribute to his fellow scientists on the MAC, saying it had been a “singular honour” to serve on the committee alongside exceptional colleagues.
“It is a labour of love, grappling with an avalanche of new information daily — sifting through fact, fiction, conspiracy theories, assumptions and projections to provide science-based advice in the midst of substantial uncertainty,” he said.
NM/jn/APA