Latest news with #Cluver
IOL News
10 hours ago
- Health
- IOL News
UCT's Lucie Cluver recognised with OBE for impactful research in child welfare
Lucie Cluver, an honorary professor at UCT and Oxford. Image: UCT University of Cape Town (UCT) honorary Professor Lucie Cluver, also a professor at the University of Oxford, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King's Birthday Honours List for her contributions to children's wellbeing and global public health. Cluver, in collaboration with colleagues at UCT and Oxford, has led impactful interdisciplinary research improving the lives of children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Key initiatives include the UKRI GCRF Accelerating Achievement for Africa's Adolescents Hub and the Global Parenting Initiative. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she co-led the Covid-19 Emergency Parenting Response, reaching over 210 million people globally. Driven by a mission to support vulnerable children through science, Cluver's UCT-Oxford partnership has received numerous awards for its impact on policy and practice. According to UCT, Cluver has co-led groundbreaking interdisciplinary research for over 14 years across UCT and Oxford. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading She has worked closely with Associate Professor Elona Toska, director of UCT's Accelerate Research Hub, Professor Cathy Ward, director of UCT's Safety and Violence Initiative and the Centre for Social Science Research. 'I am honoured and amazed at being given this award. Every impact that we have had is because of an incredible team of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and colleagues – across South Africa and the UK – who are dedicated to improving the lives of children. Being at the University of Oxford and University of Cape Town gives us an incredible privilege: the academic freedom to pursue research that can directly help the most vulnerable,' said Cluver. Between 2019 to 2024, Cluver led the UKRI GCRF Accelerating Achievement for Africa's Adolescents Hub, a £20 million research initiative based at Oxford and co-led with Toska at UCT. 'In 2022, in collaboration with Professor Ward, she became co-principal investigator of the Global Parenting Initiative, which provides free, evidence-based support to parents worldwide to prevent child sexual abuse, exploitation and family violence. The initiative spans leading universities, foundations and charities, aiming to reach the world's most vulnerable families with accessible and effective parenting tools,' UCT said. 'In 2002, I was a social worker in Nyanga, trying to help mothers and children who were dying of HIV/AIDS. I asked local charities what they needed, and to my astonishment they said 'research': they wanted to know what would be the most effective and affordable ways to protect children. Now we work with governments, UN agencies and donors, to answer the same question, and find solutions for millions of children who deserve the most effective support,' added Cluver. UCT explained that the UCT-Oxford partnership led by Cluver, Toska, Ward and Lachman has been globally recognised for its impact.
IOL News
a day ago
- Health
- IOL News
Professor Lucie Cluver honoured with OBE for contributions to child wellbeing
Professor Lucie Cluver, honorary professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and professor of Child and Family Social Work at the University of Oxford, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List Image: UCT In recognition of her unparalleled dedication to children's wellbeing and public health, Professor Lucie Cluver has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List. An honorary professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and a professor of Child and Family Social Work at the University of Oxford, Cluver's groundbreaking research over the past 14 years has made significant strides in improving the lives of children and adolescents across sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Cluver, in collaboration with Associate Professor Elona Toska, director of UCT's Accelerate Research Hub, and Professor Cathy Ward, director of UCT's Safety and Violence Initiative and the Centre for Social Science Research, has been a leading force in interdisciplinary studies that address the multifaceted challenges facing vulnerable children. Her enthusiasm and collaborative spirit shine through in her reflections on the award: 'I am honoured and amazed at being given this award. Every impact that we have had is because of an incredible team of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and colleagues – across South Africa and the UK – who are dedicated to improving the lives of children,' she stated. From 2019 to 2024, Cluver took the helm of the UKRI GCRF Accelerating Achievement for Africa's Adolescents Hub, an ambitious £20 million initiative aimed at identifying and scaling effective strategies to enhance outcomes for young Africans. Through this hub, Cluver has successfully brought together a diverse group of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, creating an ecosystem for innovative solutions to address youth challenges in the region. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Additionally, in 2022, she co-led the Global Parenting Initiative, which seeks to offer free, evidence-based parenting support worldwide with the aim of preventing child sexual abuse and family violence. This initiative connects leading institutions and charities globally to provide parents with the tools needed to create safer and more nurturing environments for their children. Cluver's work was especially vital during the Covid-19 pandemic, where she spearheaded the Covid-19 Emergency Parenting Response alongside UCT's Centre for Social Science Research. Supported by WHO, UNICEF, and PEPFAR, this initiative delivered critical resources to over 210 million people across 198 countries, directly influencing parenting during a tumultuous time and being adopted by 34 national governments. Reflecting on her journey, Cluver recalls her early contributions as a social worker in Nyanga, where she learned the crucial need for research in addressing the complexities surrounding HIV/AIDS. 'In 2002, I was a social worker in Nyanga, trying to help mothers and children who were dying of HIV/AIDS. I asked local charities what they needed, and to my astonishment they said 'research': they wanted to know what would be most effective and affordable ways to protect children,' described Cluver. This initial insight has propelled her career, as she now collaborates with governments and global agencies to implement effective interventions targeting vulnerable populations.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Professor Lucie Cluver honoured abroad for transforming the lives of vulnerable children
Professor Lucie Cluver, a distinguished academic jointly affiliated with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of Oxford, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours List. The recognition honours her outstanding contributions to children's wellbeing and global public health. Professor Cluver serves as an honorary professor in UCT's Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, and as a professor of Child and Family Social Work at Oxford. For over 14 years, she has co-led pioneering interdisciplinary research alongside Associate Professor Elona Toska, director of UCT's Accelerate Research Hub, and Professor Cathy Ward, head of UCT's Safety and Violence Initiative and the Centre for Social Science Research. "I am honoured and amazed at being given this award. Every impact that we have had is because of an incredible team of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and colleagues across South Africa and the UK who are dedicated to improving the lives of children," said Cluver. "Being at the University of Oxford and University of Cape Town gives us an incredible privilege: the academic freedom to pursue research that can directly help the most vulnerable."
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
PEPFAR disruption could kill half a million children by 2030, study finds
Half a million children could die from AIDS by 2030 because of disruptions to the flagship US HIV prevention project PEPFAR, experts have warned. Their analysis, published in The Lancet on Tuesday, estimates that one million additional children could be infected with HIV and almost half a million of them could die by the end of the decade if PEPFAR's programmes are reduced or eliminated. On top of the infections, some 2.8 million children could be orphaned by HIV-related deaths, they found. PEPFAR was established by George W Bush, the US President, in 2003. So far, it has saved over 26 million lives, protected 7.5 million babies and supported 10 million orphans with HIV prevention and treatment. Since its inception, the project has put more than $120 billion (£94 bn) into efforts to tackle HIV – the largest commitment by any nation in history to address a single disease. It operates in more than 50 countries around the world. The support PEPFAR funding provides includes life-saving antiretroviral treatments for those with HIV, as well as antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection. It also supports voluntary medical male circumcisions, the training of health care workers, and HIV prevention services for girls and young women. On January 20, Donald Trump signed an executive order halting these life-saving efforts. The decision followed news that several nurses funded by PEPFAR had performed illegal abortions in Mozambique. Prof Lucie Cluver, co-lead author of the analysis, from the University of Oxford, was a social worker in South Africa before PEPFAR was introduced. 'My work was with dying children and mothers and I had nothing to give them. Then PEPFAR came and everything changed – it was like seeing a continent come to life again,' she told the Telegraph. But the suspension of PEPFAR has thrown efforts to end HIV and AIDS into jeopardy, she said. 'Losing stable, long-term support for PEPFAR programmes sets global progress to end HIV/AIDS back to the dark ages of the epidemic, especially for children and adolescents,' she said. Prof Cluver said a colleague had recently returned from the rural Copperbelt in Zambia and told her it felt like the clock had been turned back 25 years. 'They were seeing children with sores on their faces and mothers dying again,' she said. The impact of PEPFAR extends beyond HIV and AIDS prevention – it also also supports many programmes working to improve child health and eliminate sexual violence against girls. If these programmes end, there is a risk that the children they help will 'slip through the cracks,' said Susan Hillis, a Senior Research Officer at Imperial College London and another of the report's co-authors. '[Reducing] sexual violence is one of the most fundamental things PEPFAR has done,' Prof Cluver added. 'It's often how young girls are contracting HIV and those who have been victimised get mentorship, counselling and support. Losing it would be catastrophic.' The researchers urged the US to support a five-year transition plan instead of stopping PEPFAR immediately, so that responsibility for its programmes can be taken on gradually by African governments. 'What is urgently needed now is a well-planned transition to expanded country-ownership of PEPFAR programmes that will offer stability for countries that currently rely on PEPFAR support,' said co-author Prof Chris Desmond, of the University of Kwazulu-Natal. Prof Cluver told the Telegraph that, if PEPFAR is terminated, the country most affected will be the US itself. 'PEPFAR is so important to the way the US is viewed globally. It is the reason why the US has such strong trade and diplomatic relations with Africa. I hope they'll make the right choice.' Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
PEPFAR disruption could kill half a million children by 2030, study finds
The support PEPFAR funding provides includes life-saving antiretroviral treatments for those with HIV, as well as antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection. It also supports voluntary medical male circumcisions, the training of health care workers, and HIV prevention services for girls and young women. On January 20, Donald Trump signed an executive order halting these life-saving efforts. The decision followed news that several nurses funded by PEPFAR had performed illegal abortions in Mozambique. Prof Lucie Cluver, co-lead author of the analysis, from the University of Oxford, was a social worker in South Africa before PEPFAR was introduced. 'My work was with dying children and mothers and I had nothing to give them. Then PEPFAR came and everything changed – it was like seeing a continent come to life again,' she told the Telegraph. But the suspension of PEPFAR has thrown efforts to end HIV and AIDS into jeopardy, she said. 'Losing stable, long-term support for PEPFAR programmes sets global progress to end HIV/AIDS back to the dark ages of the epidemic, especially for children and adolescents,' she said. Prof Cluver said a colleague had recently returned from the rural Copperbelt in Zambia and told her it felt like the clock had been turned back 25 years. 'They were seeing children with sores on their faces and mothers dying again,' she said. The impact of PEPFAR extends beyond HIV and AIDS prevention – it also also supports many programmes working to improve child health and eliminate sexual violence against girls. If these programmes end, there is a risk that the children they help will 'slip through the cracks,' said Susan Hillis, a Senior Research Officer at Imperial College London and another of the report's co-authors. '[Reducing] sexual violence is one of the most fundamental things PEPFAR has done,' Prof Cluver added. 'It's often how young girls are contracting HIV and those who have been victimised get mentorship, counselling and support. Losing it would be catastrophic.' The researchers urged the US to support a five-year transition plan instead of stopping PEPFAR immediately, so that responsibility for its programmes can be taken on gradually by African governments. 'What is urgently needed now is a well-planned transition to expanded country-ownership of PEPFAR programmes that will offer stability for countries that currently rely on PEPFAR support,' said co-author Prof Chris Desmond, of the University of Kwazulu-Natal. Prof Cluver told the Telegraph that, if PEPFAR is terminated, the country most affected will be the US itself. 'PEPFAR is so important to the way the US is viewed globally. It is the reason why the US has such strong trade and diplomatic relations with Africa. I hope they'll make the right choice.'
