In celebration of Pharmacy Month, we turn the spotlight on two outstanding pharmacists from our Pretoria site—Liezl Nel and Henriette Bam— whose expertise and dedication is making a significant impact.
Liezl Nel, who joined Aurum in 2017, exemplifies our core values of Respect, Innovation, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence. Her journey from a locum role to a key position in our laboratories reflects our mission as a proud African organisation—to generate evidence for policy and translate it into practice for global health impact. Central to Liezl’s work is her emphasis on the vital need for local vaccine production, aligning perfectly with our commitment to improving public health in Africa worldwide.
She highlights the vital importance of local vaccine production, noting that it enhances accessibility by decreasing reliance on international supply chains, reduces costs for underserved populations, allows for faster responses in emergencies, and builds regional expertise and infrastructure for long-term sustainability.
For Pharmacy Month, the Pretoria Pharmacy team organised a thoughtful initiative. They conducted Hepatitis B tests for Aurum team members in Pretoria and created a lively atmosphere with cupcakes decorated with vaccine names. This event sparked valuable discussions around this year’s theme, “Let’s Talk About Vaccines.”
Henriette Bam joined Aurum during the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly adapting to the high demand for vaccine preparation. Her work on pivotal studies like PURPOSE 1, PURPOSE 2, Dolphin Kids, and N-TB highlights her significant contributions. PURPOSE 1, where Henriette played a crucial role, marked a groundbreaking advancement in HIV prevention. The trial, which demonstrated 100% efficacy of twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir in cisgender women, received a standing ovation at the IAS conference, after Prof. Linda-Gail Bekker’s presentation.
Aurum’s involvement, contributing over 10% of the cohort from four of our sites, highlights our commitment to advancing global health. Henriette’s experience in this transformative trial showcases the organisation’s mission: generate evidence for policy and translate policy into practice
Both Liezl and Henriette exemplify the dedication and innovation driving our pharmaceutical efforts. As we celebrate Pharmacy Month, their stories remind us of the vital role pharmacists play in advancing healthcare and improving lives.
