Government's response to COVID-19 under the spotlight at SFSA 2020
Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic will top the agenda as the virtual Science Forum South Africa 2020 enters its second day today. Among other things, the Forum will consider whether the measures imposed by governments worldwide to contain the virus infringed on individual rights.
In line with the "new normal", the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is hosting its annual science, technology and innovation dialogues online.
The Science Forum 2020 kicked off yesterday with a virtual opening by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande. Professors Quarraisha and Salim Abdool Karim delivered the plenary lecture at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, reflecting on careers devoted to "science for social justice".
Today's programme includes a number of parallel sessions covering a wide variety of topics, including government's ability to manage the scientific uncertainties of a pandemic within existing legal frameworks, while fairly balancing its response with constitutional rights and people's freedoms.
The session taking place in virtual room 2 will discuss the legal framework governments used to deal with the pandemic, and how the subsequent measures impacted on human rights in selected areas. It will also look at the health measures put in place by the Gauteng government to slow down and reduce infections, and the successful outputs that can be attributed to the measures implemented.
Among the speakers will be Dr Marietjie Botes, who, with 20 years' experience as an attorney specialising in law and technology, became involved in pandemic preparedness and management research, and wrote a section about human rights in the SA Country Report.
Prof. Laetitia Rispel, who holds the Research Chair on Health Workforce for Equity and Quality at Wits University under the DSI/NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative, will share some of her expertise in the public health field, specifically in health policy and systems research.
The session will close with a brief discussion of the scientific voice, freedom of expression and public trust, and their importance in dealing with public health issues.
DETAILS OF THE EVENT
Date: 10 December 2020
Time: 15:45 – 17:15
To register for the virtual event, use the following link:
https://sfsa2020live.antennae.antfarm.co.za/
Issued by the Department of Science and Innovation
For more information, contact Veronica Mohapeloa at 083 400 5750 or Thabang Setlhare at 072 659 9690.
