non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in raising HIV/AIDS awareness in
correctional centres, and mobilising staff and offenders to get tested
13 September 2006
Cape Town - The Department of Correctional Services is to intensify its
public education and awareness raising campaign by using prominent
personalities and role models as well as NGOs to encourage inmates and staff to
vigorously participate in its national HIV/AIDS prevalence survey, which is
being rolled out.
This has been overwhelmingly supported by members of parliament who are of
the view that role models and celebrities as well as NGOs need to become
ambassadors of the department's national prevalence survey.
This follows the department's briefing to the National Council of Province's
Select Committee on Justice, Safety and Security today. The select committee
undertook to throw their weight behind the campaign to mobilise staff and
offenders to participate in the planned HIV prevalence survey.
In its briefing, the department announced that it is to launch its national
HIV/AIDS prevalence survey in Pretoria on 2 October 2006, following a recent
pilot study on the prevalence of the disease in its correctional centres in
Gauteng which solicited less than 10 percent of responses by staff and
offenders.
The department is also to meet service providers who will be engaged to
assist in mobilising staff and offenders to actively participate in the survey,
and this will include utilisation of prominent people and NGOs. Task teams have
been established in each region to effectively manage the survey whilst a
comprehensive mass communication and marketing campaign will be rolled out
concurrently with the survey to mobilise staff and offenders to participate in
the survey.
Public events throughout the country will also be used as platforms to
mobilise active participation through the dissemination of relevant messages to
ensure that staff and offenders get tested. This with a view towards
establishing a holistic and comprehensive prevalence plan, which will assist in
the national rollout of the HIV/AIDS therapy and treatment programme of the
department.
For more information contact:
Manelisi Wolela
Deputy Commissioner: Communications
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
13 September 2006
