FIND Board Member Precious Matsoso recognized for Lifetime of Service to Global Public Health

The University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) honored FIND Board Member Precious Matsoso this week with the SAMRC’s President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for work that “embodies the highest ideals of scientific merit and public service”.

Ms Matsoso has dedicated her life and her work to improving the quality of health systems around the world, ensuring that essential medicines are available to all, and advocating tirelessly for global health equity.

“Precious Matsoso has been a tireless force for good for decades, and we at FIND truly appreciate her, her work, and her service as a member of our Board. This honor is truly well deserved,” said Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, Chief Transformation Officer/CEO.

In addition to her role on the Board of FIND, Ms Matsoso is Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for a Pandemic Accord where she is driving efforts to improve how the world prepares for and responds to pandemics. She is also the Director of the Health Regulatory Science Platform in the Division of Wits Health Consortium at Wits University and a member of The Lancet Global Commission on High Quality Health Systems.

She has served as co-chair of the Digital Health Technical Advisory Group at WHO, and the Director General of the National Department of Health of South Africa.

Dr Ayoade Alakija, FIND Board Chair, said, “Ms Matsoso is a global health titan, who consistently fights to ensure that innovation in diagnostics, treatment, and vaccines is accessible to everyone, especially people from the poorest and most marginalized communities. At a moment of unparalleled turbulence for global health, the well-deserved recognition for Ms Matsoso is an inspiration to all those that fight for equity, human rights, and health for all.”