Correctional Services On Improving Inmates Healthcare

The percentage of inmates on antiretroviral therapy (ART) stood at 97.95%, whilst those tested for HIV was at 91.20% and the TB cure rate (new pulmonary) at 85.80%, as at the end of December 2015.

This was revealed by the National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Mr. Zach Modise, earlier today (19 April 2016) at the start of a two-day DCS Health Partners Conference in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng.

The aim of the conference, hosted by Right to Care (a non-profit organisation that supports and delivers prevention, care and treatment services for HIV and associated diseases) and attended by correctional officials, healthcare professionals, representatives from the Department of Health, Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) and other stakeholders, is to create a platform to share feedback on the support provided, lessons learned and good practices in terms of inmate healthcare.

Delivering the keynote address, Commissioner Modise said: "During April, South Africa commemorates Freedom Month. Freedom Month allows us to reflect on progress we have made in moving South Africa forward.

Correctional Services On Improving Inmates Healthcare

Since 1994, government has consistently worked to improve the lives of all South Africans by advancing their socioeconomic rights such as housing, water, education, social development and healthcare.

We have also made significant progress in building a democratic nation, founded on the values of human dignity, non-racialism and non-sexism.

All South Africans are accountable to the Constitution, as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution, and its Bill of Rights, guarantees a society in which human rights should be entrenched. The Bill of Rights reaffirms that everyone has inherent dignity, and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.

"As part of our mandate, let us never forget the words of the late President Nelson Mandela pertaining to those who are incarcerated: 'A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest'. The DCS Programme: Care comprises of three sub-programmes - Health Care Services, Nutritional Services and Hygiene Services.

This programme aims to improve inmates' access to healthcare services, by increasing the promotion of health lifestyles, the provision of basic healthcare services and the prevention of diseases. The strategic objectives are to provide inmates with:
HIV and AIDS and TB services to improve life expectancy;
Appropriate nutritional services; and
Appropriate hygiene services during the period of incarceration.

"To achieve this, the department has been receiving tremendous support, and guidance, from different clusters in the Department of Health (DoH) at national, provincial, district and sub-district levels. The National Department of Health has secured funding from the Global fund for strengthening, and improving, services for TB, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

"The National Department of Health was the principal recipient (PR) for this fund, and contracted the following partners (sub-recipients) namely Right to Care (RTC), Aurum Institute and TB/HIV Care Association for implementation in different regions in an effort to enable the department to reach the intended targets and outcomes.

The support, and guidance, from these partners enabled the DCS Regions to implement the Guidelines for the Management of TB, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Right to Care was specifically tasked to support the Free State/Northern Cape and KZN Regions, and DCS has been in a position to exceed the set targets for the third quarter as a result of continuous support from partners.

The Department of Correctional Services would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to thank all partners for the achievements in the Annual Performance Plan nationally.

"As per the White Paper on Corrections in South Africa, incarceration, by its very nature, can have a damaging effect on both the physical, and mental, well-being of inmates. Thus, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is obliged to provide for the health needs of inmates in its correctional facilities.

This also requires that those providing healthcare be trained in the specific health needs, and challenges, encountered in a correctional centre environment. Inmates must also have the ability to seek healthcare solutions that are appropriate, and attainable, for correctional facilities.

The responsibility of DCS is not just to provide healthcare, but also to provide conditions that promote the well-being of offenders and correctional officials.

"DCS facilitates access, and ensures the provision, of primary healthcare services to inmates, in accordance with applicable international and national legislation, policies, guidelines, standards and protocols. Healthcare delivery is strengthened through partnerships, and cooperation, with various internal and external stakeholders.

Services provided on a 24-hour basis include promotive, preventative, curative and rehabilitative care for acute and minor ailments, injuries, communicable diseases (TB, HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, Hepatitis A, B and C) and non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes, epilepsy and hypertension).

Secondary, and tertiary, levels of care are accessed at district and provincial health facilities, and, at times, at private health care providers (depending on the need for such services). There are a number of pharmacies established within the department to ensure access to pharmaceutical services.

In order to meet the nutritional needs of inmates, DCS provides meals as indicated in the prescribed ration scales and meal plans. Provision is also made for different dietary requirements by providing cultural, religious and therapeutic diets.

"The Auditor-General of South Africa will be auditing the DCS performance information, and the aim is to have a clean audit report. This requires accurate, current, complete, factual and organized documentation and reporting of performance information.

Officials are, therefore, urged to ensure high-quality healthcare to inmate patients/clients and to keep records as legislated. In conclusion, I want to express my profound gratitude to all DCS officials for working as a team with our partners to ensure service delivery to inmates who have been entrusted in the department's care.

I wish you all the best, and am looking forward to implementation of the outcomes of this Health Partners Conference. Let us continue to work together, with all role-players, towards the successful implementation of conditions that promote the well-being of inmates and correctional officials," Commissioner Modise said.

Department of Correctional Services