L Jacobus: Launch of the HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey

2 October 2006

The Commissioner, Linda Mti
The Regional Commissioner, Vernie Pietersen
Management and staff of the Department
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen

We are gathered here today to launch the HIV and syphilis survey among
members and inmates of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). The
extent of HIV infection among members and offenders is currently not known as
HIV and AIDS is not a notifiable disease and testing is not compulsory. In
order for us to respond appropriately to the particular challenges which the
treatment of this disease presents, we are obliged to make every effort to get
as accurate a picture as possible of the extent of the problem. The prevalence
survey which commences today is our attempt to do just that.

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure offenders and members
alike that the survey is done in a scientific manner which ensures that the
results are reliable and valid. We have procured the services of an external
service provider, Limu'vune Consulting, to ensure an environment of trust and
confidentiality.

It is important that you understand that the sample for the survey will
include 10% each of member and inmate population. Those included in the survey
will be randomly chosen and will be approached in writing to participate in the
survey. Members and inmates will be identified with a bar code and no names
will appear on any records. Participation is entirely voluntary. No-one will
receive the results of these blood tests - if you want to know your status you
will have to visit your clinic or doctor.

As you all know our department has come under considerable pressure to
provide inmates who have the AIDS virus with antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.
With more accurate information from the survey we will be better placed to
implement the comprehensive HIV and AIDS Management Plan. As a Department we
are pleased and relieved that in co-operation with the Departments of Health
and Home Affairs we have been accredited to dispense ARV treatment to inmates
at four centres nationally, three in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Free State. This
process of identifying and accrediting new sites is continuing.

Having said this, I must reiterate that we are not a health competency. Our
core business is:

* the safe and secure custody of offenders under humane conditions
* correcting offending behaviour
* facilitating rehabilitation and social reintegration.

The negative publicity we have received on this issue has arguably created
the impression that we are uncaring or unwilling to attend to the urgent needs
of desperately ill offenders. We are mandated by the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa and our department's White Paper to provide basic
medical care for inmates. Anything beyond this basic medical care we are not
competent to provide and therefore, we have to refer inmates to the nearest
hospital or health centre.

The Department of Health determines and prescribes the process by which we,
as the Department of Correctional Services, provide ARV treatment to offenders.
It is, therefore, our obligation, as a fellow government department, to abide
by these prescripts and requirements. In formulating our own Comprehensive HIV
and AIDS Management Plan our aim is to improve the turn around time in
accessing treatment and minimise the ferrying of offenders to outside health
facilities, which increases the risk of public exposure to high profiled
offenders who may also unfortunately, use the opportunity to escape.

For us, it is also no small coincidence that this event takes place just
after Corrections Week. The focus of which was to showcase the best of our
department. It also gave us an opportunity to reach out to our communities to
celebrate our gains, as well as, to appeal to them and our partners to embrace
ex-offenders and assist them in reintegration into their family and community
life.

Nationally, we have nearly 800 inmates receiving ARV treatment and
approximately 1 200 on the pre-treatment and counselling process. For some
here, these figures may seem relatively low compared with our total offender
population. However, I want to emphasise that testing for HIV is done on a
purely voluntary basis. We, as the DCS therefore, cannot force anyone to take
an HIV test against their will. Many inmates choose not to get tested and there
is little we can do apart from persuading them that appropriate treatment can
be sought if we and they know their status.

One of our challenges is that nurses, psychologists, social workers,
pharmacists and doctors with the DCS do not enjoy parity in remunerations with
other similar professionals within the public service. The implication is that
we struggle to recruit and retain these professionals. We might have to look at
a range of incentives to attract these professionals to the DCS.

In as much as we are doing all we can to provide access to ARV treatment
this is only one aspect of the fight against HIV and AIDS. Our comprehensive
plan stresses the importance of prevention, treatment, care and support. During
the treatment phase, nutrition plays a critical role in supporting ARV
treatment. In our programme, nutrition is not an alternative to treatment but
is an integral part, which is why offenders are placed on a special diet at
this time.

As government we would like to emphasise the importance of advocating for a
holistic approach that must include prevention, good nutrition, treatment, and
care, healthy and responsible lifestyles.

Conclusion

I would like to appeal to inmates and members alike to participate without
fear of stigmatisation or victimisation in this survey. The results will inform
a management process which will benefit the department as a whole and would not
expose anyone to discrimination or victimisation.

Let this second decade of freedom indeed also herald in the Age of Hope for
our inmates, ex-offenders, their families, the DCS and all our partners. Let's
make the DCS indeed a place of new beginnings in a caring environment.

I thank you.

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