1. An Age of hope: a National Effort for Corrections, Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration of Offenders PRESENTATION ON CURRENT HIV AND AIDS PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES: 12 SEPTEMBER 2006

2. PURPOSE TO BRIEF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ON THE CURRENT HIV AND AIDS PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES

3. CURRENT PROJECTSINITIATIVES CURRENT PROJECTS / INITIATIVES  Mandates: HIV and AIDS Policy for offenders formatted and aligned to the White Paper on Corrections Post Exposure Prophylaxis Guidelines distributed to Regions for implementation Correctional Centre Based Care Policy approved and distributed to Regions In the process to develop Policy Procedures

4. CURRENT PROJECTSINITIATIVES (Cont..2) CURRENT PROJECTS / INITIATIVES (Cont..2)  Prevention: Invited services providers to bid for the training of 320 professional personnel (Health Care workers, Social Workers, Psychologists and Spiritual Care) in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Lay counsellors seconded from Dept. of Health to assist with VCT 120 Offenders to be trained as HIV and AIDS Master Peer Educators Commemoration of calendar events e.g. World AIDS Day 2006 in Eastern Cape Region Ongoing awareness and training sessions on healthy lifestyles and positive living

5. CURRENT PROJECTSINITIATIVES (Cont..3) CURRENT PROJECTS / INITIATIVES (Cont..3)  Care and Support: Rendering of Correctional Centre Based Care by offenders to terminally ill offenders Ongoing therapeutic interventions Establishment of support groups 250 Health Care workers as Master Trainers in Correctional Centre Based Care Facilitation of the process of release on medical parole Encourage the “buddy support system” for offenders who are on antiretroviral and TB treatment (DOTS supporters)

6. CURRENT PROJECTS/ INITIATIVES CURRENT PROJECTS / INITIATIVES (Cont..4)  Treatment: Development of National Guidelines for DCS to facilitate access of offenders to antiretroviral treatment Assessment of identified Correctional Centres to be accredited as sites for the roll-out of the Comprehensive Plan (including antiretroviral treatment) 3 Correctional Centres already accredited as ARV sites (Grootvlei, Pietermaritzburg and Qalakabusha) Training of 250 nurses in the Comprehensive Management of HIV and AIDS related diseases (including ARVs) Training of professional nurses in the management of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis (TB) Training of health care workers in the electronic TB register for record keeping in collaboration with Dept. of Health

7. CURRENT PROJECTS CURRENT PROJECTS / INITIATIVES (Cont..5)  Partnerships Received donor funding from the US Government: Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Government departments e.g. Health, Home Affairs, Social Development, etc. Non-government organisations Faith Based Organizations Private Sector

8. CHALLENGES No compulsory testing for HIV and therefore no early detection for prevention, care and management of the disease DCS not a health competency Facilitation of access to external accredited sites vs. Security risks Inadequate resources, e.g. professional personnel, HIV and AIDS coordinators, finances, etc Stigma and discrimination Placement of terminally ill offenders

9. An Age of hope: a National Effort for Corrections, Rehabilitation and Social Re-integration of Offenders Thank you