Standing Up for Science

Salim S. Abdool Karim

Description

Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, Salim S. Abdool Karim was catapulted into a prominent position in the media and on television as the face of South African science in the country's response to the pandemic. Up to that point, his groundbreaking research on AIDS had garnered many awards, leading to his recognition as one of the world’s leading epidemiologists, making him ideally positioned to take the scientific lead in the Covid-19 response.

Standing Up for Science is Abdool Karim’s personal, behind-the-scenes account of the first three years of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is inspiring and informative, shedding light on the difficulties in providing scientific advice, on the international co-operation that was integral to responding to the pandemic, as well as giving insight to some of the controversies in the science-to-policy process, and drawing lessons from Covid-19 to prepare for future pandemics. Beyond the recent events in which the story is grounded, the book is an ode to the value of science and its power to help us tackle some of the world's biggest problems.

Sujets

• Médecine
• Médecine d'urgence
• Physicians
• Emergency Medicine
• health
• Medical
• Republic of South Africa
• VIH
• South Africa
• Science and technology
• Physician
• Anthony
• HIV
• Afrique du Sud

Informations

• Publié par: Pan Macmillan South Africa
• Date de parution: 26 juin 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781770108240
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

About the author
Salim S. Abdool Karim FRS is a South African clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist widely recognised for his scientific contributions to AIDS and Covid-19.
He serves as a Special Adviser on pandemics to the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
He is the Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and CAPRISA Professor of Global Health at Columbia University. He is an Adjunct Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard University, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Cornell University and Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
He is Vice-President of the International Science Council and serves as a member of the WHO Science Council and the Advisory Board of Physicians for Human Rights. He previously served as President of the South African Medical Research Council and as Chair of the South African Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19. He is a board member of the New England Journal of Medicine , The Lancet Global Health and The Lancet HIV . He is a member of the US National Academy of Medicine and The World Academy of Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society.
He is a visionary leader, scientist, human rights advocate and institution-builder whose scientific contributions have impacted on the global response to the HIV and Covid-19 pandemics.

STANDING UP
FOR SCIENCE
A Voice of Reason
South Africa’s Chief Covid-19 Science Adviser at
the Frontlines of the Pandemic
SALIM S. ABDOOL KARIM
MACMILLAN

First published in 2023 by Pan Macmillan South Africa
Private Bag X 19, Northlands
Johannesburg
2116
South Africa
www.panmacmillan.co.za
TPB ISBN 978-1-77010-823-3
HB ISBN 978-1-77010-890-5
E-ISBN 978-1-77010-824-0
Text © Salim S. Abdool Karim 2023 Foreword © Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without theprior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Editing by Alison Lowry
Proofreading by Sally Hines
Indexing by Judith Shier
Design and typesetting by Triple M Design, Johannesburg
Cover design by publicide
Cover photograph by Rajesh Jantilal
‘We’re Building the Ship as We Sail It’ from The Best of It © 2010 by Kay Ryan.Used by permission of Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
At the time of publication, all the website and article links provided in the book were live.

Dedicated to health care workers, scientists and essential workers for their personal sacrifice and unwavering, selfless commitment during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Contents
Foreword by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Acknowledgements
Acronyms and abbreviations
PART A : A new pandemic arrives: The first 100 days
Chapter 1 : Alert!
Chapter 2 : The reality of the pandemic dawns
Chapter 3 : The pandemic response – science advice needed
Chapter 4 : Building while sailing
Chapter 5 : More than an infection
Chapter 6 : Not just a disease – an upheaval
Chapter 7 : Making a plan
Chapter 8 : ‘Next slide!’
Chapter 9 : Knowledge is power
Part B : From reluctant medical student to pandemic science adviser
Chapter 10 : Formative early years in science
Chapter 11 : Lessons from AIDS
Chapter 12 : From AIDS to Covid-19
Chapter 13 : A perfect storm
Chapter 14 : Covid-19 scientific contributions
Chapter 15 : Global pandemic collaboration
Chapter 16 : Science in the spotlight
Chapter 17 : Building trust in science
Part C : Challenges at the advice-to-policy interface
Chapter 18 : Leading the MAC – attaining sufficient consensus
Chapter 19 : From advisory to policy and implementation
Chapter 20 : Following the science?
Chapter 21 : Politically challenging advisories
Chapter 22 : Alcohol and tobacco bans
Chapter 23 : Getting Covid-19 twice?
Chapter 24 : A new variant – Beta on the rise
Chapter 25 : Vaccine rollout fallout
Chapter 26 : Variants versus vaccines
Chapter 27 : Another new variant – Omicron
Chapter 28 : Miracle treatments
Chapter 29 : The disinformation bandwagon
Chapter 30 : The Good, the Bad and the Complicated
Part D : Lessons for the future
Chapter 31 : Contemplating the paths forward
Chapter 32 : Learning from the past to prepare better for the next pandemic
Chapter 33 : Science – the universal language of fellowship
Appendix 1 : Scientific publications
Appendix 2 : Scientific committee appointments
Appendix 3 : Awards
Appendix 4 : Media


Foreword
W hen I was putting together the WHO Science Council in 2021, I asked Professor Salim Abdool Karim – better known to all as Slim – to serve as a member of the Council, recognising his important contributions in several scientific advisory positions in the WHO over the past two decades. The following year, 2022, I asked him to serve as my Special Adviser on pandemics, drawing on his leadership during Covid-19 and his years of experience in dealing with epidemics and pandemics.
Slim’s contributions to health research – both in his own country of South Africa and on the African continent – are held in high regard. Slim and his wife Quarraisha have worked steadfastly and with deep commitment over several decades to curb the impact of HIV, advancing HIV research, developing new technologies and approaches for HIV prevention and treatment, advocating for local and global action, and bringing hope for a better future.
Throughout his career, Slim has faced both political and scientific challenges with equanimity. When the Covid-19 pandemic erupted and created upheaval in people’s lives, Slim was able to use his well-honed scientific knowledge to distil complex scientific concepts as well as help educate, inspire and reassure.
As I know from personal experience, he is also unafraid of using science to speak truth to power. His strong sense of social justice is tempered by a commitment to remain true to the science. As this book illustrates, Slim does not shy away from highlighting the injustices that often attend those inequalities, including those inequities that emerged so starkly, particularly in the early phases of the global distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine.
At the close of the first meeting of the WHO Science Council in April 2021, I quoted Louis Pasteur, who said: ‘Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.’ In this way, science can rise above partisan politics and geopolitical interests and remind us that we are all citizens of one planet, linked by our humanity. This is a lesson that Slim knows well from a lifetime of experience. His work is a reminder of the enduring value of science in the service of global health.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General, World Health Organization
May 2023


Acknowledgements
M y decision to pen my thoughts was made on the principle I hold dear – ‘mutual interdependence’ – the belief that each of us should act to benefit the collective, not just ourselves. This principle is the foundation for justice, peace, health and prosperity in the world. I have sought to follow this guiding principle with the help of three fundamental concepts that have guided my life’s work and scientific contributions – passion, excellence and perseverance.
Writing this book was a journey that started with a discussion I had with the indomitable Smita Maharaj in 2020. I am deeply indebted to her for omnisciently facilitating this book and prodigiously providing encouragement to get it published.
Besides Smita, four people have been key to making this book possible. I deeply value their contributions and their personal commitment to this book project.
Sharon Dell, who began this project over two-and-a-half years ago with me. She is a gifted writer and captured my innermost thoughts and reflections through our numerous discussions. Her drafts had the uncanny ability to convey the complexities of scientific concepts almost effortlessly, belying the intricacy and enormity of the task.
Alison Lowry, who did a great job, working with the Pan Macmillan team to edit the manuscript, enhancing its flow and coherence.
Aisha Abdool Karim, who worked alongside me with her masterly editing, creating continuity and lucidity in the drafts of each chapter.
Safura Abdool Karim, whose superb writing skills I took advantage of to get text drafted and edited for the final section of the book.
Anyone who has authored a book will know that inspiration is a prerequisite to complete and publish a book. My inspiring life partner and scientific collaborator, Quarraisha, was unstinting in her support and encouragement.
My thanks to Pan Macmillan and, in particular, Andrea Nattrass for her continual encouragement and for publishing my manuscript. She is the firm but generous taskmaster who ensured that I met deadlines for submissions.
Thanks to Nikita Devnarain for her help with the appendices and references. And my appreciation to those in the Presidency, the Ministry of Health, Department of Health and the many other government officials I worked with for giving me the opportunity to make a scientific contribution to South Africa’s pandemic response.
It was an honour and a pleasure to serve with each and every member of the South African Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you, to l