Professor was symbol of commitment and dedication

THE sad death of Professor Gita Ramjee has robbed the country and Africa of a medical icon.

The medical fraternity has lost a mentor, a teacher, a professional who will be hard to replace.

We have to celebrate her life. She was a woman of efficacy and she wanted quality service.

She was a woman with a vision. She saw the vision and ran with the vision. She swam in uncharted waters.

She was at the frontier of medicine. Gita was the fountain of wisdom and a repository of medical knowledge.

There is a void in our lives that only memories and her legacy can fill.

What made Gita Ramjee unique was her impeccable medical techniques, unsurpassed clinical judgements and infectious and unbridled enthusiasm about medicine.

She was a consummate expert on Aids and its deadly impact on society and the cost of illnesses borne by our women. We had one of the titans, who spearheaded research into diseases that imperil humanity.

Although she is gone, she left precious gifts, impeccable vision and the fruits of ceaseless, inspiring pursuits.

We will forever be grateful for the indelible impact she made on the history of medical research and her contributions for a better world.

There is an old expression which says: “When the righteous die, even the heavens cry”.

Her sad death generated a wealth of gratitude from her followers and an outpouring of admiration from her colleagues around the world.

She was one of those rare personalities who reshaped the contours of life.

Gita Ramjee’s dedication can aptly be described in this poem penned by Emily Dickinson:

If I can stop one heart from breaking I shall not live in vain

If I can ease one life from aching Or cool one pain

Or help one fainting Robin Onto his nest again

I shall not live in vain.

Gita was a symbol of commitment and dedication to the cause of justice and equity in the fight against ill-health for the poverty-stricken masses.

Sadly one of our foremost scientists has passed into the great beyond.

It behoves our society to express its regrets at the great loss sustained by not only our country, but which the whole civilised world is obliged to bear.

Professor Gita Ramjee, we will sincerely miss you. May you create your wonders in heaven. Hamba

kahle, beloved Gita Ramjee.