Joint statement by Correctional Services and Health on provision of
HIV/AIDS services

23 August 2006

In line with the constitutional mandate to provide health and safety at
correctional service centres, the Department of Correctional Services and
Department of Health jointly express commitment to provide comprehensive
HIV/AIDS related services to the inmates and the rest of the community of
Durban-Westville Correctional Centre.

The Department of Correctional Services has a comprehensive programme to
deal with the challenge of HIV/AIDS amongst the inmates and staff. There is an
intensive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign and condoms are available in all
correctional centres. Prevention is the most critical intervention as there is
still no cure for HIV/AIDS.

The Department encourages uptake into the voluntary counselling and testing.
As part of the comprehensive plan for management, care and treatment of
HIV/AIDS, those living with HIV/AIDS are assisted to adopt healthy lifestyles
and they are treated for opportunistic infections.

Antiretroviral therapy is available to all the offenders with a CD4 count of
200 and below. This treatment is provided through the Department of Health's
accredited sites, which include amongst others King Edward VIII. The hospitals
are within a reasonable driving distance from the Durban-Westville Correctional
Centre. The Department of Correctional Services facilitates all the
arrangements to allow the inmates to contact attending health professionals for
the required consultation and collection of the prescribed medicines.

At least 93 offenders with lower than 200 CD4 count are currently enrolled
in the anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy programme through a collaborative
initiative between the Department of Correctional Services and Department of
Health.

At least 47 of these offenders are already receiving ARV medication. Others
are being prepared for enrolment.

The Department of Correctional Services and Department of Health reiterate
their commitment to continue the implementation of the comprehensive plan on
HIV/AIDS. Government is committed to ensure that offenders have access to
health care that is commensurate with the level of care they could have
accessed, had they been free men and women.

Part of the collaboration plan is the secondment of two lay counsellors,
assignment of three visiting doctors and accelerate the assessment process for
accreditation of Durban-Westville Correctional Centre as an ARV site. The
departments are also working out mechanisms for continuous improvement of
internal efficiencies to achieve quicker turn around times from detection to
administering of ARV medication.

Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304

Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161

Issued by: Department of Correctional Services and Department of
Health
23 August 2006
Source: SAPA