Life Healthcare, one of South Africa’s largest private healthcare groups, is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Professor Bongani Mayosi, Dean of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT), who was also a founding trustee of the Life Foundation from 2007 to 2014.

Life Healthcare, one of South Africa’s largest private healthcare groups, is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Professor Bongani Mayosi, Dean of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT), who was also a founding trustee of the Life Foundation from 2007 to 2014.

Prof Mayosi partnered with the Life Foundation on the ‘Heart Health for Kids’ Mobile Clinic Project implementing rheumatic heart disease screenings in 23 disadvantaged schools in Langa and Bonteheuwel, Cape Town between 2007 and 2012. The project secured the link between poverty and the incidents of rheumatic heart disease in children.

The Professor’s passion and dedication to the project extended to the establishment of the first patient register of  rheumatic heart disease from other countries in Africa, the Middle East and India. This triggered an ambitious global movement to register all cases of rheumatic heart disease in the world through the Global Rheumatic Heart Disease Register or REMEDY study, and continues to be led by UCT.

A number of academic and research articles have been published as a result of the ‘Heart Health for Kids’ Mobile Clinic Project.

“Prof Mayosi’s work and research in improving public health in South Africa has and will continue to have a great impact in our communities. We are thankful for the role he played as a founding trustee of the Life Foundation and the outcomes achieved through the ‘Heart Health for Kids’ Mobile Clinic Project.

“His passing is a huge loss to the medical profession and South Africa at large. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Mayosi family and trust they find strength and courage at this difficult time,” said Dr Shrey Viranna, Group CEO for the Life Healthcare Group.