Top

Call us on (021) 425 0050

Inmates in correctional centres

Inmates in correctional centres around the world are at a higher risk of both TB and HIV. South Africa is no different. TB HIV Care’s Correctional Services Programme has supported the Department of Correctional Services with direct service delivery, technical assistance and training at identified facilities across South Africa since 2009. The programme provides health education; condom and lubricant distribution; pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); VMMC; HIV testing services (incl. self-screening); antiretroviral therapy (ART); prevention and treatment for TB; and monitoring and evaluation support. TB HIV Care also works with other partners to assess and improve methods of controlling infectious diseases within centres. This includes a pilot project to integrate viral hepatitis services into the existing HIV prevention and treatment programme at two correctional facilities (Goodwood Correctional Centre in the Western Cape and Durban Westville in KZN).

People who inject drugs

People who inject drugs (PWID) are one of the most vulnerable population groups when it comes to blood-borne viruses like HIV and hepatitis. They face stigma and discrimination, are often without a fixed residence or social support system, fear incarceration, and struggle to access HIV prevention services or appropriate treatment, care and support.
Our Step Up and HarmLESS projects offer harm reduction and healthcare services to PWID in the City of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, eThekwini, Tshwane, and Ehlanzeni. This includes health education; HIV testing and treatment; hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening, testing and treatment; STI screening and treatment; TB screening, testing and care; a needle and syringe program (NSP); opioid substitution therapy (OST); and bespoke psychosocial services, inclusive of economic strengthening initiatives. This package of harm reduction services is recommended by the World Health Organization and is an important part of South Africa’s National Strategic Plan 2023-2028 to end HIV, TB and STIs.

Sex workers

Sex workers are at a heightened risk of HIV because of stigma, discrimination, harassment and punitive laws which make it difficult to access healthcare services, including HIV prevention supplies such as condoms and lubricants. TB HIV Care’s sex work programme operates in eight districts in South Africa (Oliver Tambo, eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande, Nkangala, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Ngaka Modiri Molema), where our drop-in centres and mobile outreach services are designed to encourage health-seeking behaviour; meeting sex workers where they work, live or socialise, addressing their particular needs, and facilitating psychosocial support and referrals where necessary. The programme has been a pioneer in offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to HIV-negative sex workers as part of a government-led programme and also provides life-saving antiretroviral treatment, adherence support and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. The programme is widely recognised for providing a friendly, welcoming and human-rights-based approach for marginalised sex workers.