Page 2 - Advancing Life 2023

THANK YOU,
Professor Gray
Prof Glenda Gray
Key findings from 20 years
of strategic HIV and public
health data
The results from the Sixth South
African National HIV Prevalence,
Incidence, and Behaviour survey
(SABSSM VI) are available,
which highlight progress toward
ending HIV in South Africa – the
country with the world’s largest
HIV epidemic.
The study was led by the Human Sciences
Research Council (HSRC) in collaboration and
partnership with the South African Medical
Research Council, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, NICD, University of Cape
Town, South African National Aids Council, and
UNAIDS and was funded by the US President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
With the survey collecting data on key indicators,
results were presented on the HIV annual
incidence, prevalance and viral load suppression.
Also highlighted was the achievement of the
On behalf of the Board, Senior
Executive team, and the entire I reassure my unwavering
SAMRC community, collective commitment to the
appreciation is extended to SAMRC and the medical
Professor Glenda Gray for research community. I
her diligent service to the look forward in hope, to
organisation. a healthier future and
towards a world free from
the burden of HIV. I’d also
Professor Gray, who has served as the President
and CEO of the South African Medical Research like to express my deep
Council (SAMRC) for the past 10 years, has gratitude and sincere
announced her intention to assume a different thanks for the opportunity
role within the organisation and expressed her to lead this amazing
desire to transition into a full-time science role
in 2024 when her term as the President and CEO organisation and serve
of SAMRC comes to an end. the country and scientific
community with pride and
Throughout her leadership at the SAMRC, Professor respect.
Gray, alongside an exceptional Senior Executive
team, has achieved significant milestones including
five consecutive clean audits, transformative grant – Prof Glenda Gray
funding initiatives that have greatly improved
support for young scientists, black African scientists,
and women, as well as the establishment of vital
collaborations and partnerships that will advance
scientific research.
95-95-95 targets set out by the South African decreased from 14.0% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022.
National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STI’s. This translates to approximately 7.8 million
people living with HIV in South Africa in 2022
SABSSM VI found that the percentage of all compared to 7.9 million in 2017.
people living with HIV in South Africa has