Prof Simon Schaaf has received the National Order of Mapungubwe (silver) for excellence in the field of medical sciences from South African President Jacob Zuma. The award specifically recognises Schaaf’s groundbreaking research on managing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), especially in children.
A long-time Union member who currently serves on the Board of Directors, Schaaf is one of the world’s leading experts on MDR-TB in children. He was one of the early pioneers in the study of TB drug resistance, focusing on child TB diagnosis and surveillance with particular emphasis on DR-TB and anti-TB drug pharmacokinetics. His research pointed up the need to carry out drug-susceptibility testing on children with culture-confirmed TB and has led to a greater understanding of how to handle dosages of first- and second-line TB drugs for children.
Schaaf is a Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Stellenbosch University and Desmond Tutu TB Centre. He treats children at the Tygerberg Hospital, Brooklyn Chest Hospital and through outreach programmes in Khayelitsha and Scottsdene near Kraaifontein, as well as consulting on cases all over the world. Author of more than 200 papers, he is chief co-editor of widely used textbook, Tuberculosis: A Comprehensive Clinical Reference.
A frequent speaker and participant at the Union World Conference on Lung Health, Schaaf is the chair of The Union’s Adult & Child Lung Health Scientific Section and represents the section on the Board of Directors.
The National Order of Mapungubwe is South Africa’s highest honour and recognises citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement to the benefit of South Africa and beyond.