CAPRISA Director awarded prestigious Kuwait prize for his research contributions
Professor Salim Abdool Karim Director of CAPRISA, was awarded the prestigious Al-Sumait Prize, $500,000 and a gold medal, for research contributions to African Development by the Amir of Kuwait at a special event held in Kuwait on 5 December. The Al-Sumait prize “recognizes the best studies, scientific projects, applied research, and innovative initiatives that have a significant impact and lasting influence on advancing progress to economic and social development in Africa”.
The award was established by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait in 2013 and is named after the late Dr Abdulrahman Al-Sumait, a Kuwaiti medical doctor who dedicated his life to raising funds to support humanitarian and charity work for health, education and food projects for the less fortunate in African Nations. The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and a Board of Trustees oversee the prize.
Professor Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Chair of CAPRISA’s Scientific Advisory Board congratulated him on receiving this award, saying “this is a well-deserved recognition for Professor Abdool Karim for his excellent research that has made a major impact on the HIV epidemic in Africa”.
Abdool Karim said he was honoured and humbled to be a recipient of this prize. “It is really a recognition for the hundreds of scientists who have toiled many hours in their laboratories, clinics and communities in undertaking studies with me over the last 30 years. I am deeply thankful to the thousands of individuals who have participated in these studies – none of this could have been achieved without their dedication and commitment”.
Dr Adnan Shihab-Eldin, Director General of the KFAS, which administers the prize told the audience that this years Laureates had been working tirelessly to improve life expectancy and quality of life for millions of people living on the continent of Africa and beyond and their dedication and determination was truly inspiring”.
Photo: Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim receiving the 2018 Al-Sumait Prize from the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the Director-General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS), Dr Adnan A. Shihab Eldin. The Al-Sumait Prize Ceremony was held in Kuwait on Wednesday 5th December in recognition of research that has contributed to development in Africa. Prof Abdool Karim received the award for “his extensive research on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of HIV that has influenced the global response to the AIDS epidemic, with impact on mortality and morbidity worldwide, particularly in Africa.”
For more info visit: www.alsumaitprize.org