Speaking truth to power: the era of HIV dissidents

In 2022, at the height of HIV and Aids denialism in South Africa, Dr Olive Shisana led a seminal HSRC study on HIV prevalence that showed an infection rate of 11.4%. She later became the CEO of the organisation from 2005 to 2015. In an interview with the HSRC Review, Shisana emphasised the need for researchers to speak the truth to those in power and for leaders to trust scientific evidence when they make policy.