The care and support of those infected and affected by HIV falls within the mandate of the SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) who must ensure equitable care to all members of the SA National Defence Force and approved clientele. It is based on a multi-disciplinary and multi-professional approach and address the complete continuum of care.

Although the provision of general health-care to approved clientele falls within the mandate of the SAMHS as a Service, certain issues with regard to HIV require specific attention. These issues are the responsibility of the Regional or Mobile, Area and Tertiary HIV/AIDS Committees at unit level in the HIV Management Structure and are coordinated by the respective Formation Coordinators in the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee.

The basic components of care and support in HIV/AIDS management as provided by the SAMHS are as follows:

• Counselling services, psycho-social and spiritual support.
• General health monitoring and care, immunisation, nutritional support as approved and the prevention of opportunistic diseases.
• Post-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of HIV transmission.
• Palliative care.

Anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS is currently only provided by the SAMHS for post-exposure prophylaxis following occupational exposure to HIV, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, documented cases of sexual assault and cases where there has been documented post-exposure prophylaxis failure.