The United Kingdom Academy of Medical Sciences hosted a virtual meeting on Addressing the challenge of COVID-19 in low and-middle-income countries (LMICs). South Africa was one of the nine participating LMICs. The meeting, which took place on 15-18 June 2020, had both groups closed sessions and one open session.

Prof Heidi van Rooyen was the Group Chair of the social and behavioural responses closed session. The two other sessions were on public health responses and clinical care responses. Prof Karen Hofman, Prof Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Prof Julian May, Prof Michael Pepper and Prof Priscilla Reddy also participated and contributed at both the groups closed sessions and the open session.

The meeting explored opportunities for countries to improve response and increase preparedness in future, particularly via international interdisciplinary collaboration; innovation and adaption; and leadership, evidence and trust. Click here to access the report from the meeting that was launched in September 2020.