South African Correctional Centres and the need to rethink approaches to HIV/AIDS

Abstract

HIV/AIDS treatment inside South African correctional centres recently dominated headline discussions. Every country should take measures to ensure good health for all citizens. The right to health is a Constitutional right in South Africa. Although certain Constitutional rights may be limited, the right to health should not be exposed to limitations when the interest of society as a whole becomes affected. Therefore, there could be little doubt that the management of HIV/AIDS in correctional settings is more important today than ever before. During 2003 South African prison authorities admitted that HIV/AIDS in correctional centres is an enormous problem and that the rate of prevalence and growth is unknown. The seriousness of the issue was compounded by overcrowding, poor health facilities and violence. In this article the position of South Africa concerning HIV/AIDS as a particular health care phenomenon is investigated against the background of developments and actions inside the correctional centres of the country. Emphasis is be placed on the undeniable link between prison health and public health, which underpins the need to rethink approaches to HIV/AIDS in correctional centres