Correctional Services on HIV prevalence campaign

12 September 2006

The Department of Correctional Services will launch the rollout of a nation
wide HIV prevalence survey among offenders and officials in October 2006, using
funds from the United States (US) Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
(PEPFAR)

A departmental delegation led by Correctional Services Deputy Minister,
Loretta Jacobus, briefed the Portfolio Committee of Correctional Services in
Parliament in Cape Town today, 12 September 2006, on progress made in
implementing the prevalence survey as part of efforts aimed at sharpening its
HIV and AIDS management programme. The Department said the participation rate
of officials and offenders in the pilot survey completed in May 2006 in Gauteng
was “very disappointing” but gave good lessons for successful rollout of the
national prevalence survey.

Chief Deputy Commissioner of Development and Care, Ms Jabu Sishuba, said
although the participation rate was low, the pilot has provided good lessons
that will be useful in the planned rollout of the national HIV prevalence
survey. Among lessons learnt is that syphilis and HIV is prevalent in
correctional facilities, where management is more hands on there is greater
participation of staff and offenders and there is no significant correlation
between syphilis and HIV.

Ms Sishuba said to ensure the success of the national HIV prevalence survey
the Department will intensify communications, step up the management
involvement and mobilise external and internal partners to champion a call for
maximum participation of offenders and officials.

The Department also briefed the committee on progress made in implementing
various elements of the comprehensive HIV and AIDS programme and on its
handling of medical paroles. Ms Sishuba said part of PEPFAR financed
intervention programmes is the training over 320 health professionals in
voluntary testing and counselling, 120 offenders as master peer educators, as
well as training of 250 nurses in comprehensive management of AIDS-related
diseases including offenders on antiretroviral (ARV) medication.

Correctional Services National Commissioner, Linda Mti, said “The Department
is doing its best against a number of challenges” which include recruitment and
retention of scarce health professionals, non-mandatory testing of offenders
for the presence of HIV on admission and reluctance of offenders to disclose
their HIV status in time. He said "The management of medical paroles is a
difficult and sensitive matter that requires a balance between public safety
and a need for palliative care for terminally ill offenders as outline in the
legislation."

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Mr Dennis Bloem, said “It is very
clear the Department and government have a programme for addressing a series of
HIV and AIDS challenges.” He said balancing between services accessed by
ordinary citizens and offenders is a difficult challenge people need to
appreciate and understand. He said “Daily people are dying from a series of
illnesses including AIDS-related diseases, a scenario that is also experienced
in correctional facilities and therefore criticising the Department and
Government is incorrect."

In conclusion Deputy Minister Jacobus, appreciated the sterling work done by
correctional officials in many instances under trying conditions and called on
all members of parliament, stakeholders and the public to join hands in dealing
with the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Enquires:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
12 September 2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)