Researcher Gita Ramjee ‘was a rock in our family’
PROFESSOR Gita Ramjee, a renowned HIV researcher, was laid to rest in the presence of four people.
Her funeral was held at the Clare Estate Crematorium hours after she died of Covid-19 at a Durban hospital last week.
Ramjee, 63, of Westville, travelled to London to attend a conference and had also visited her sons, who are based there.
Ramjee, who had underlying complications of asthma and pneumonia, fell ill shortly after returning home in midMarch and was admitted to hospital.
At the time of her death, Ramjee was the chief scientist at the Aurum Institute, a healthcare organisation leading the response, treatment and research efforts to eradicate TB and HIV.
She was previously the director of the HIV prevention unit at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
Ramjee would have celebrated her 64th birthday today.
Speaking of the funeral, Avnish Ramjee, her nephew, said the family managed to secure the services of a priest who conducted a short, 40-minute ceremony before her remains were cremated.
“It was myself, my wife, Gita’s husband Pravin, and another relative. Her two sons, Shaniel and Rushil, who live in the UK, were unable to attend due to the circumstances.”
Avnish said none of them were allowed to view the body.
“Her ashes were, however, given to us, and we plan to have a formal memorial, with everyone, when the time is right.”
On Saturday, the Ahmed Kathrada
Foundation and the Progressive Health Forum hosted an online memorial for Ramjee.
Avnish thanked the organisations. He said it was a difficult time for the family, who were still trying to come to terms with her sudden death.
“It is a struggle right now. My wife and I are trying to be the stronghold for everyone.”
Ramjee’s husband declined to comment, referring the POST to Avnish.
Pravin owns a pharmacy in Reservoir Hills which Avnish confirmed is currently open.
“He has a locum pharmacist who is running the pharmacy, but he hasn’t gone in since his wife’s passing.”
Avnish also confirmed that Pravin was tested for Covid-19 and his results were negative.
“I saw him yesterday, and he’s in good health. He is just a little lost now but is trying to be brave. Many people have been calling to offer strength and support, so I think the reality of it all has not struck him yet. He was married to Gita for more than 40 years, and it is going to be really hard for him.”
Rushil, Ramjee’s son, in a joint family statement, said: “As a family, we are devastated and shocked by her passing. My mother was a rock in our family. It is tough to put into words how she was as a wife and mother: kind, caring, loving, strong, all come to mind when thinking about her.”
Ramjee was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Dhirajlal and Nirmala Parekh.
When she was in high school, her family moved back to India, where they were originally from.
Ramjee finished high school in India.
She then earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Sunderland in England.
While there, she met her future husband, Pravin Ramjee, from Durban.
In 1994, she earned her PhD on kidney diseases of childhood at the University of Natal.
In 1996, she joined the SAMRC as a scientist, but rose quickly through the ranks to head the largest unit of the council, the HIV Prevention Research Unit, administering studies and drug trials with a particular focus on the prevention of HIV in women.
Professor Glenda Gray, SAMRC President and CEO, said: “We are still in mourning. I have tremendous respect for her contributions and passion to find solutions for HIV prevention in South Africa. We have worked so hard towards this and are saddened to have lost someone so soon on this journey.”
Dr Salim Abdool Karim, a leading South African clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist, said he last spoke to Ramjee in January when he met her for lunch.
“She asked if I would be attending CROI (conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections) in Boston in February. She said she would be going. But when she got to London, she received information that the conference would be held virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Karim said Ramjee fell ill a few days after she returned home.
“I was told that she was placed in ICU. I called the hospital to find out if I could visit, but they refused.”
Dr Karim said no one was allowed to visit, not even her husband.
He took Ramjee under his wing when she joined the SAMRC.
“I first met Gita 30 years ago when she was doing her kidney research under Dr Jerry Coovadia. I was struck with her tenacity in how she tackled research questions.”
He soon recruited her for Aids research.
“When I left in 2001, she was my successor but never for one moment lived in my shadow. She held her own and rose through the ranks.”