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For over 35 million people living with HIV across the world, the prospect of going into remission -- where the virus is undetectable and they no longer need antiretroviral therapy --is still just a dream. But the discovery of a South African child living in remission for close to nine years opens the door for scientists to explore the phenomenon, and ultimately offer hope that remission could become a reality. Caroline Tiemessen explains.
Images of suffering children and emotive appeals from international NGOs are driving the “voluntourism” phenomenon – young adults from Western countries travelling to Africa with charitable intentions. Andrea Freidus argues that these volunteer programmes are fundamentally flawed. Far from alleviating human suffering in places like Malawi, they perpetuate forms of Western intervention that neglect and mystify the structural causes of poverty.
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A 3D depiction of HIV which attacks T-cells in the body.
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Caroline T. Tiemessen, National Institute for Communicable Diseases
A South African child, who has been in HIV remission for nearly nine years, could help researchers understand how to make remission possible for millions of other HIV positive people.
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Politics + Society
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Andrea Freidus, University of North Carolina – Charlotte
Voluntourists' ability to change systems, alleviate poverty or provide support for vulnerable children is limited. They don't have the skills and can perpetuate patronising and unhelpful ideas.
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Education
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Frans Swanepoel, University of Pretoria
To stimulate innovation in the agriculture sector education and training is in dire need of substantial reform for greater integration, cooperation and accountability.
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Business + Economy
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Steven Friedman, University of Johannesburg
A different form of state capture is underway in South Africa's rural areas where traditional leaders are selling off people's land to miners. But communities are fighting back.
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From our international editions
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Punita Chowbey, Sheffield Hallam University
A new study provides a more nuanced understanding of the role food plays in healthy eating and family life.
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Cameron Hunter, University of Bristol
Dreams of new footprints on the moon are more about domestic politics than foreign policy.
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Molly Pahn, Boston University; Anita Knopov, Boston University; Michael Siegel, Boston University
Data show the vast majority of people killed by gun violence are black, and live in urban areas.
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Peter Richardson, San Francisco State University
Ramparts started as a Catholic literary magazine. But when Warren Hinckle took the helm, he developed a layout, voice and rebellious spirit that Rolling Stone would go on to mimic.
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