News Bulletin of 5 June 2026, 8am

Professor Shabir Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement.
The award, presented by the US-based National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, recognises contributions to public health through science.
Prof Madhi’s three-decade career has focused on vaccinology, studying how vaccines work and how effectively they protect against disease.
His research on vaccines for pneumonia, diarrhoea, influenza and RSV has helped shape World Health Organisation recommendations.

Meanwhile, an AI-driven biomedical facility has been launched in Johannesburg to support healthcare research and drug development across Africa.
The project is a partnership between a health research organisation, a medical institute and a global innovation group, using cloud-based technology.
It is based in a former pharmaceutical site and brings together health and genetic information to improve medical research and diagnosis.
The facility will provide data and tools for researchers and governments across the continent.

Residents, stakeholders and social workers held a Child Protection Week awareness walk in Tarlton, in Mogale City last month, to promote child safety and reporting of abuse cases.
The walk started at the Light Centre for Children with Disabilities and ended in Matshelapata Street, with participants sharing information on children’s rights, abuse prevention and available support services.
Organisers used the campaign, aligned with National Child Protection Week observed from 29 May to 5 June, to encourage communities to report abuse.
The initiative also focused on protecting children with disabilities, with social workers and local stakeholders distributing information on child protection services and support organisations.