Issued by: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
12 JANUARY 2000
Pretoria - Minister Ben Ngubane and his Deputy, Brigitte Mabandla, today congratulated Professor Valerie Mizrahi on having received the prestigious UNESCO award for her groundbreaking work in Aids and tuberculosis.
Professor Mizrahi, attached to the Molecular Biology Unit at the South African Institute of Medical Research (SAIMR) of the University of the Witwatersrand, is the first South African scientist to win one of five "Women in Science" prizes awarded annually by UNESCO and cosmetic firm L'Oreal to the top five women scientists. Being the winner from Africa, she received her prize last night in Paris, France.
Dr Ngubane said that the prize was a fitting recognition for the achievements of Professor Mizrahi, who has chosen to apply her talents and skills to address two of the most serious diseases prevalent in the country, the continent and the world.
Ngubane and Mabandla said that role models of the calibre of Professor Mizrahi complement the many initiatives that the Department has integrated into its programmes, aimed at facilitating the entry of greater numbers of women into careers in science and technology and related fields. The importance of this could not be underestimated said Mabandla.
Dr Ngubane said that, through her work in science and medicine, Professor Mizrahi is making an immense contribution to addressing issues of quality of life, and in doing so, is helping to alleviate the burden of disease that is the cause of so much suffering and pain in our society.