The remarkable story of Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim

A LIFELONG JOURNEY IN SCIENCE AND SERVICE

- NADIA KHAN [e-mail]

FOR the past three decades, Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, a world-renowned infectious disease epidemiologist and the associate scientific director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research South Africa (Caprisa), has made an indelible contribution globally through her research on HIV and Aids.

In addition to her numerous local and international recognitions for her contributions to science, the 65-yearold of Musgrave was recently elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the world’s oldest and prestigious scientific academy.

Childhood

For Abdool Karim, who is the third born of nine children, her journey stemmed from humble beginnings growing up in Tongaat.

Her maternal great-grandfather came to South Africa in 1860, and served as a mediator between the indentured labourers and the British.

“He had a farm in Emona which my grandmother, Narainamma Saibe, took care of. | remember her quite well. She must have been in her sixties when I was born.

“She lost her mother at a young age and had to take care of her siblings and the farm. She later married their family’s accountant, Mohamed Saibe.

“He came from a well-known and influential family in Tongaat. My grandfather’s family were involved in community service.

“In those days, malaria was common and he was in charge of a committee to help people. I never had a chance to meet him, but I would have loved to have asked him about his involvement in public health.

“Later on, when my mother, Zanib, married my father, Ahmed Abdulla Khan, they moved to my childhood home in Plein Street. My grandmother lived with us and played an important role in my childhood. She was hardworking and highly respected in the community. There was always a constant stream of people coming in and out of the house, seeking her wise counsel.