Poland in South Africa

During the meeting that took place recently at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to South Africa, Andrzej Kanthak, congratulated prof. Janusz Pawęska on such a high distinction, and familiarized himself with the scientific achievements of the outstanding scientist, as well as with the research and works carried out by him at the South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg, as well as with the challenges that the scientists face currently around the world in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Of his many titles, Prof Janusz T. Paweska is the Head of the Centre for Emerging, Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service.  He is also an Associate Professor (Reader) at the University of Witwatersrand, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences. As a veterinarian who specialized in medical and veterinary virology and epidemiology, he’s got expertise in the field of emerging and re-merging zoonotic pathogens of epidemic-prone potential, including highly specialized diagnostics, aiding patient management and outbreak control measures, epidemiological studies, biosurveillance of zoonoses of public health importance. In 2008, he led the discovery of a new Old-World arenavirus (named by him Lujo) during a highly fatal nosocomial outbreak in Johannesburg. First recognition of yellow fever outbreak in Angola in 2015, prompted the implementation of massive vaccination in this country, thus contributing to its control. He is also responsible for managing the most advanced biocontainment infrastructure in the country and in Africa, building capacity for diagnostics, research and biosecurity of high-consequence pathogens, including the recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). He led the South African mobile laboratory response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014-2016 - for weeks during Ebola crisis in Freetown this was the only diagnostic capacity available, and it was crucial not only for rapid diagnosis and isolation of Ebola cases, but also for contact tracing, patient management and safe burials. It was the largest SA outbreak response on a foreign soil and a part of international efforts in bringing the Ebola outbreak under control. In 2009 he was conferred a Professorship Title (in Veterinary Science) by the President of the Republic of Poland - Polish Central Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles. Awarded a statuette of “Sapere Auso” as an outstanding alumnus for professional achievements, 2011 - Rector of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. Gold medal for NRF rated researcher, 2013: award from Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also a recipient of the Award from the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences University of the Witwatersrand in 2014 in recognition for his dedication and achievement in research. He won the first prize of the British Medical Association for Medical Book Awards, 2015 - contribution of two chapters. Awarded Honour Medal of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 2015” (information on the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) website).

Employees of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria congratulate professor Janusz Pawęska and express their sincere appreciation for such wonderful scientific achievements and wish him further successes in his professional career.

SAMRC 7th Scientific Merit Awards - Gold Award - Prof Janusz T. Paweska
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6e6n96ZS7Y