First Lady of South Africa visits Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation

Mrs Zuma, First Lady of South Africa, visits Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation

Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation welcomed South Africa’s First Lady on 7 October as she visited the College to meet its world-leading academics and endorse the wealth of interdisciplinary global health research at Imperial.

The Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), Chaired by Professor the Lord Darzi, brings together world-leading academics in medical science, engineering, business and health policy to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities in developed and developing countries. The First Lady, Mrs Tobeka Zuma, met with Imperial’s world-leading academics as part of the Institute’s aim to ensure healthcare innovations and health policies have a significant impact across the world.

Lord Darzi with Mrs Zuma at the Institute of Global Health Innovation

Mrs Zuma was visiting the UK as part of a tour to raise awareness of her charity The Tobeka Madiba Zuma Foundation, which promotes health initiatives, education and the empowerment of women across Africa. Following welcome speeches from Imperial’s Rector, Sir O’Nions, and Professor the Lord Darzi, Mrs Zuma spoke on her foundation’s work to help South Africa move towards an HIV free generation and build a cancer smart society.

During the visit, Mrs Zuma heard from three of Imperial’s world-class academics. Speaking on HIV healthcare, Dr Beate Kampmann highlighted the challenges in delivering effective care to HIV-infected women and babies and Professor Jonathan Weber championed the CD4 Initiative; a project developing an innovative HIV point-of-care diagnostic test. Professor Leslie Regan spoke on the differing healthcare challenges in treating cancer in the UK and South Africa, an area of particular interest to Mrs Zuma. IGHI welcomed Mrs Zuma’s endorsement and enthusiasm for Dr Kampmann, Professor Weber and Professor Regan’s work.

Commenting on the visit Professor Darzi said: “The visit by Mrs Zuma to Imperial was a great success in building connections between IGHI and South Africa. We share common goals with Mrs Zuma, who spoke passionately on the importance of tackling global health challenges such as HIV and cancer through the implementation of low cost, high impact and innovative health solutions.”