Chairperson, enkosi kuMaNgwenya ngombuzo [I would like to thank MaNgwenya for the question].
Firstly, the HIV and syphilis prevalence study was completed in February 2007 and the final report was provided to the department in May 2007. Secondly, the results have not been made available because the department had to ensure that the results were valid, reliable and in accordance with national and international standards before any announcements could be made on them. The service provider, assisted by external experts, was requested to present the results to top management in the department.
The department is in the process of preparing for the announcement of the results and it is envisaged that this will happen as part of the departmental build-up to the national World Aids Day event which will be addressed by the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services. It will be held on 30 November 2007.
Furthermore, the HIV and syphilis prevalence study was undertaken to inform the strategies and policies of the department. The department will therefore review its current policies and procedures, based on the results of the HIV and syphilis prevalence study, to improve access to comprehensive HIV and Aids programmes and services.
I must mention in the same breath that this morning one of our centres was accredited as an ARV centre and that is Brandvlei correctional centre in the Western Cape - you can reach it by going up the mountain. The Deputy Minister hosted that ceremony and did the accrediting of Brandvlei this morning.
The department has already commenced with the process to align its framework for comprehensive HIV/Aids programmes and services to the National Strategic Plan for HIV/Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections for 2007-11. The first draft of the framework was presented at the meeting of the SA National Aids Council. We were represented by the Deputy Minister in the meeting of the council in September 2007 and that draft framework was received positively by members of Sanac. Thank you.