Correctional Services National Commissioner Tom Moyane says all deserving inmates with appropriate levels of CD4 count are on an anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment programme.
Commissioner Moyane today led a high level delegation of Correctional Services to brief the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services on a range of issues identified by the committee as critical. The delegation told Committee members today that Correctional Services is able to provide anti-retroviral treatment to over 8 500 inmates suffering from AIDS, through its 21 accredited wellness sites for comprehensive prevention, care, support and treatment of AIDS.
He said the department had come a long way in the provision of comprehensive prevention, care, support and treatment (ART) since the accreditation of the department’s first ART wellness site in August 2005 at Grootvlei Medium A. He said the number of inmates or patients who required ARVs grew significantly since 2003 and it was taxing for the department to refer inmates to accredited ART wellness sites in the Department of Health.
Although the department relies heavily on the Department of Health for supply of ARVs to inmates particularly in areas that do not have accredited Correctional Services ART sites, the department is continuing to invest more to meet the growing demand for treatment. During the current financial year the budget for the provision of ART is R13,5 million and it will be increased by 115% for the next financial year to just under R29 million. The obligation of the Department of Correctional Services is to ensure that inmates affected by the pandemic can access the treatment similar to that accessible to all citizens elsewhere in the country.
Commissioner Moyane says his department’s stance on HIV and AIDS, are premised on the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS developed in 2000 which recognises HIV and AIDS as one of the major challenges faced by South Africa. It states that this epidemic affects the lives of all South Africans in different ways and has a wide-ranging impact on individuals, organisations, public sector and private sector. The core components which are emphasised in the National and Correctional Services’ Strategic Plan are prevention, care, support, treatment and human rights.
According to the government’s new HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) Policy announced in December 2009, all primary healthcare facilities must provide comprehensive prevention, care, support and treatment (ART). This means that all DCS health facilities (Correctional Centres) must be prepared to provide the required services. The previously accredited comprehensive prevention, care, support and treatment (ART) wellness sites will continue to provide these services.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
