By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Professor Hoosen Mahomed “Jerry” Coovadia, a leading scientist, health policy innovator, and anti-apartheid activist.
Coovadia, affectionately referred to as Jerry by many, died at his home in Durban on Wednesday, 4 October 2023, at the age of 83.
Ramaphosa described Coovadia as an outstanding scientist and committed anti-apartheid campaigner who dedicated himself to the liberation struggle.
The President has offered his deepest condolences to Coovadia’s wife Dr Zubeida Hamed, his son Prof Imraan Coovadia, and daughter Dr Anuschka Coovadia, on behalf of government and the nation.
He said, Coovadia dedicated himself to the physical well-being and social inclusion of people all over the world through his enterprising mission as a scientist and architect of public health policies.
“His pioneering, globally acclaimed research into mother-to-child transmission of HIV has rendered an immeasurable legacy to humanity in terms of which persons living with HIV can live long and healthy lives subject to early detection and access to treatment.
“Our nation’s loss will be felt globally but we can take pride at and comfort from the emergence of a giant of science and an icon of compassion and resilience from our country,” the President added.
Although he faced numerous obstacles in apartheid South Africa, Coovadia established himself as a top paediatrician and became an international authority on HIV/AIDS, earning numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
Coovadia was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Natal now known as the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 1982 and ad hominem Professor in 1986.
From 1990 to 2000, he served as Professor and Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at the UKZN.
Director of Biomedical Science at the Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking (HIVAN), and the scientific director of the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine at the UKZN.
He was awarded the 2013 AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility. He has also received the 1999 Star of South Africa Award from President Nelson Mandela and the 2000 Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights.
The National Research Foundation (NRF), said during his career, he served as the Chairman of the Board of the UKZN Children’s Hospital Trust, a Commissioner for the National Planning Commission, and Associate Scientific Director at CAPRISA, which is home to the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention.
Having dedicated his life to medical equity and the struggle for liberation and human rights, messages of condolence and tributes have been pouring in, honouring his remarkable legacy.
Professor Rudo Mathivha, the head of ICU at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, remembered fondly how Coovadia took up the mantle for her when she was blocked from applying for the registrar’s position at KEVII Hospital at the University of Natal because of her race.
Mathivha was told that black women did not have the intellectual capacity to handle specialisation, but Coovadia would not take that lying down. “He told me I would get the post, and I must not undermine myself,” she recounted. “He supported me. He always offered his ear to listen, even when I was out of his teaching circuit. A great teacher. I never met his family, but I offer my condolences to them. Our souls would not see the rainbow if our eyes never shed tears.”
Former vice-chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa Janet Love mourned the loss of an extraordinary human being: “A man of such great humility and wisdom, a man who embraced science and social commitment, whose fight for human rights was equalled by his steadfast integrity; who loved and fought for his country and the good of humanity.”
Speaking in her personal capacity and on behalf of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, the University of Cape Town’s Professor Linda-Gail Bekker remembered Coovadia: “As a young medical officer starting out in northern KZN in the Eighties I was so thrilled to meet the clinician and paediatrician who had written the ‘green book’ on paediatrics – it was inspiring! And Jerry was an inspiration then and remained so. A wonderful clinician committed to the cause and plight of children in this country and on this continent. May his memory be a blessing to us all – may Jerry rest in peace.”
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand Shabir Madhi said Coovadia will be remembered as an activist, freedom fighter, advocate, scientist, teacher, clinician and “one who was never afraid to speak truth to power up to the end”.
“He has left an indelible positive legacy which has touched the lives of many – from medical students, scientists, political and social activity, and the communities he served,” Madhi added.
South African Medical Research Council president, Professor Glenda Gray, described Coovadia as a dear colleague and wonderful role model for young paediatricians. Pharmacy expert Andy Gray remembered him as an irreplaceable and shining example of unwavering principle over so many years.