Beloved Teacher And Founder Of GEMS Education, Mariamma Varkey Passes Away

/ Viraj Asher

One of the oldest educators in the UAE and the mastermind behind the $1.01 billion-worth GEMS Education group, Mariamma Varkey passed away in Dubai aged 89.

In 1959, Mrs Varkey moved from India’s southern state of Kerala to the United Arab Emirates before its formation and worked as a teacher, until she founded Our Own English High School with her husband, K.S. Varkey.

UAE Begins Manufacturing Coronavirus Vaccines ‘Hayat-Vax’ In a bid to make Coronavirus vaccines more affordable and available in the Middle East, the UAE is rolling out locally-manufactured ‘Hayat-Vax’ immunizations in collaboration with China’s Sinopharm CNBG. Sinopharm, a pioneer of Covid-19 vaccines since the last six months with supplies of over 100 million doses globally, announced a joint venture between with Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 (G42) to manufacture vaccines in the country and in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah-based pharma firm Julphar, it’s expected to produce two million doses every month. In December 2020, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) registered Sinopharm and their vaccines proved an impressive 86% efficacy in its initial trials, while Sinopharm reports a 79.34% efficacy based on its interim results. "When COVID-19 began to spread rampantly last year, the UAE and its leading technology company G42 explored the possibility of hosting the clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine in the country. Sinopharm has undertaken the mission of fighting this pandemic and thanks to the close collaboration with the UAE, Sinopharm’s vaccine has been now administered to millions of people in the country, the region, and the world in a fundamental step towards defeating this virus. We are proud to partner with G42 in this new Joint Venture that will play a vital role in combatting COVID-19 globally, making an indelible contribution to the health of our communities." Liu Jingzhen, Chairman of Sinopharm In addition to Sinopharm’s joint venture with G42 to manufacture Coronavirus vaccines in the UAE, they also plan to build a vaccine plant this year; KIZAD, touted to have an annual production capacity of 200 million doses across three filling lines and five automated packaging lines. "The launch of the vaccine manufacturing capabilities in the UAE is a momentous step in the fight against COVID-19. We are grateful to the shared vision of the UAE and China, their true partnership and collaboration to make this a reality. This initiative in the UAE is a strategic advancement to future proof the population health of our nations. Our JV is also actively looking to bring our capabilities to new markets around the world." Peng Xiao, CEO of G42

Photograph credit: GEMS Education

Her son, Sunny Varkey took over operations in 1980 and expanded GEMS Education into an educational management firm with 44 schools in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in addition to its presence in Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia and North America.

UAE Begins Manufacturing Coronavirus Vaccines ‘Hayat-Vax’ In a bid to make Coronavirus vaccines more affordable and available in the Middle East, the UAE is rolling out locally-manufactured ‘Hayat-Vax’ immunizations in collaboration with China’s Sinopharm CNBG. Sinopharm, a pioneer of Covid-19 vaccines since the last six months with supplies of over 100 million doses globally, announced a joint venture between with Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 (G42) to manufacture vaccines in the country and in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah-based pharma firm Julphar, it’s expected to produce two million doses every month. In December 2020, the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) registered Sinopharm and their vaccines proved an impressive 86% efficacy in its initial trials, while Sinopharm reports a 79.34% efficacy based on its interim results. "When COVID-19 began to spread rampantly last year, the UAE and its leading technology company G42 explored the possibility of hosting the clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine in the country. Sinopharm has undertaken the mission of fighting this pandemic and thanks to the close collaboration with the UAE, Sinopharm’s vaccine has been now administered to millions of people in the country, the region, and the world in a fundamental step towards defeating this virus. We are proud to partner with G42 in this new Joint Venture that will play a vital role in combatting COVID-19 globally, making an indelible contribution to the health of our communities." Liu Jingzhen, Chairman of Sinopharm In addition to Sinopharm’s joint venture with G42 to manufacture Coronavirus vaccines in the UAE, they also plan to build a vaccine plant this year; KIZAD, touted to have an annual production capacity of 200 million doses across three filling lines and five automated packaging lines. "The launch of the vaccine manufacturing capabilities in the UAE is a momentous step in the fight against COVID-19. We are grateful to the shared vision of the UAE and China, their true partnership and collaboration to make this a reality. This initiative in the UAE is a strategic advancement to future proof the population health of our nations. Our JV is also actively looking to bring our capabilities to new markets around the world." Peng Xiao, CEO of G42

Photograph credit: Varkey Foundation

More than 119,000 pupils have studied at GEMS Education schools.

Yesterday evening, GEMS Education announced Mrs Varkey’s death, saying:

“We are sad to announce the passing of Madam Mariamma (Amina) Varkey, beloved mother of our Founder and Chairman Mr. Sunny Varkey. Madam Varkey is warmly remembered as a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”

It’s commonly known in the UAE that Mrs. Mariamma Varkey taught UAE Royal family members.

Nasser Al-Shaikh, chair of Emirates National Holdings, tweeted a tribute to the late educator:

https://twitter.com/NAlShaikh/status/1377240084139941891

Read: DUBAI-BASED SCHOOL EXPELS BULLIES AFTER EXPLICIT VIRAL VIDEO

(Featured photograph credit: GEMS Education)

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