UCT’s Professor Lynette Denny honoured by the president with National Order
President Cyril Ramaphosa bestows the Order of Baobab in Silver to Prof Lynette Denny
University of Cape Town (UCT) cervical cancer researcher Prof Lynette Denny received the Order of the Baobab (Silver) from President Cyril Ramaphosa at an investiture ceremony hosted by the presidency in recognition of Prof Denny’s work as a leading global researcher in cervical cancer and its association with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Prof Denny is a senior specialist in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and has been focused on finding ways and means of preventing cervical cancer that are safe, feasible, effective, and affordable.
With her colleagues, they have been in this field since 1995, doing meticulous research studies to provide the government and policymakers with scientifically sound evidence.
HPV was found to be the principal cause of cervical cancer in the 1980s. Since then, many tests and methods have been developed. Prof Denny and colleagues have pioneered a process called Screen and Treat, where women are tested for the presence of cancer-associated HPV infection and, if positive, treatment is provided at the same visit.
Prof Denny has been the recipient of many awards, including the 2006 Department of Science and Technology Award for Women in Science in the category Distinguished Scientist Award and the CANSA AG Oettlé Memorial Award in 2015 in recognition of her remarkable contribution to reducing the impact of cervical cancer on the women of our country. CANSA congratulates Prof Denny on being awarded Order of Baobab by the President of South Africa.
