Thousands of academics, scientists and civil society members from around the world took part in the annual Global March for Science. The march is aimed at celebrating the impact and importance of science.
Sagaren Naicker in 1994 discovered he had a heart problem. 20 years later he had a heart transplant.
He says without science and technology, he wouldn’t be alive.
“Without the transplant I would have been no more. Basically, looking at the transplant and the history of it in the last 50 years, initially with transplant recipients weren’t able to survive because of the lack of knowledge in terms of medication and anti-immune suppressants.”
This march is also aimed at making science popular among the youth.
“We as students also appreciate science because as medical students we are scientists first and foremost and we want to make sure that people in South Africa need to know about science,” says a student.
“Science is not just there for people to experiment and say that’s how it’s done, but it is actually there to find solutions to the problems we are facing,” says another student.
Organisers hope more African countries will take part in this initiative in years to come.
Professor Glenda Grey President of South African Medical Research Council says:
“South Africa must invest its science. Today both Nigeria and South Africa are the only two countries in Africa marching to show the importance of science. Science is important for health and for wealth. We want to be a rich country. We have to get our government to invest in science.”
South Africans were also praised for making notable contributions in many spheres of science.
WATCH BELOW:
