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Date : 28/11/2006
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Jacobus: Launch of antiretroviral site and marking of World AIDS Day


Address by Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Ms Loretta Jacobus, on the occasion of launch of antiretroviral (ARV) site and departmental celebration of World AIDS Day, in St Albans Management Area, Port Elizabeth

Honourable Minister for Correctional Services, Mr Ngconde Balfour,
Councillor Manentsa on behalf of the Executive Mayor,
Regional Commissioner, Jolingana,
Members of the department,

Good morning to you all. We are gathered here today to commemorate World AIDS Day which coincides with the government led campaign of 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children. This campaign was initiated by the United Nations (UN) 18 years ago, to draw public attention to the plight of abused women all over the world. When our government decided to embrace the campaign and add it onto our national calendar we added children to its scope, as many of our children face abuse especially at home.

The age of 18 years is synonymous with coming of age, the rite of passage into adulthood where a person becomes legally responsible and accountable for their lives and actions. Therefore, it is appropriate that the theme this year is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise, Accountability." With events marking this day across the world perhaps we need to stop for a few moments and consider what the term accountability actually means, specifically in terms of HIV and AIDS.

In order to be accountable, one must be aware of the challenges ahead, for it becomes difficult to account if the extent of this epidemic is not known.

A recent UN report on the global trends of HIV and AIDS infection rates, does not give a bright picture of the spread of HIV and AIDS globally. South Africa in particular is facing a number of challenges in managing this scourge in our society. The Department of Correctional Services, if seen as a microcosm of society, inevitably shares similar challenges in managing HIV and AIDS amongst members and offenders.

Amongst these challenges is the fact that the extent of HIV infection among members and offenders is currently not known as these are not notifiable diseases. This, therefore, leads us to speculate that the percentage of HIV infections in correctional centres is much higher than in the general public.

The stigma attached to those living with HIV and AIDS can be harsh and violent or deathly quiet. As a department we endeavour to encourage all those infected and affected within our care to know and declare their status. It is only through breaking the silence that we can begin to deal with the stigma and discrimination associated with this disease.

In our efforts to quantify the extent of the epidemic amongst members and offenders, we have recently launched the HIV and syphilis prevalence survey among members and inmates. 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. With more accurate information from the survey we will be better placed to implement the Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Management Plan.

On 30 November 2005 the department signed a pledge in which it committed itself to the following:

1. create a caring and enabling environment that is free of stigmatisation and discrimination of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS
2. implement the approved departmental comprehensive HIV and AIDS programme, which includes prevention, care, support and treatment
3. strengthen the existing partnerships and build new stakeholder partnerships at local, provincial, national and international levels to enhance the department's ability to halt the spread and mitigate the effects of HIV and AIDS
4. ensure compliance with government legislation and policies in the implementation of HIV and AIDS programmes with effective monitoring and evaluation tools for continuous identification and addressing of gaps
5. Last and mostly significantly we will continue with our efforts to accredit more centres to provide ARV therapy. As you know we have three sites in KwaZulu-Natal, one in Free State and this morning we launch the most recently accredited site, St Albans here in the Eastern Cape. During the course of 2007/08 we are working towards accrediting sites in the regions of Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Western Cape and Gauteng.

Nationally, as of 31 October we have 1 105 on ARV treatment and over a 1 000 on the pre-treatment programme. For some here, these figures may seem relatively low when 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 Department of Correctional Services, 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 department 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 department.

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, care, healthy and responsible lifestyles.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to end this morning on the same note which I began. On 25 November the annual campaign of the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children kicked off in the Limpopo Province. This is a government led campaign which involves more and more South Africans from civil society organisations, faith-based organisations (FBOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs). Each year more and more South Africans heed the call to intensify the national movement against women and child abuse. Like with the fight against HIV and AIDS we must continue building this partnership across all of South African society and this includes correctional services.

Let us use the 16 days to re-commit ourselves and persuade others to give practical support throughout the year to the call to not commit acts of abuse against women and children. Increased risky behaviour, like alcohol and drug abuse, especially over the upcoming festive season also increases violent behaviour towards women and children. Alcohol and drugs also increases risky sexual behaviour which makes women and girls more vulnerable to contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI).

We must therefore combine our efforts to ensure the implementation of the 365 days national action plan against gender and child directed violence.

Let this second decade of freedom indeed also herald in the 'age of hope' for the broad Department of Correctional Services family, (our inmates, ex-offenders, their families), all our partners and especially the women and children in our care.

Let us as correctional services, be an example of new beginnings for all South Africans; that truly cares and creates a better life for all!

Issued by: Department Correctional Services
28 November 2006

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