Prevention and education is coordinated by the Tertiary, Area and Mobile Military Health Coordinators in the HIV Management Structure and contains the following components: HIV in the workplace programmes. Condom provision. Peer Education. Voluntary counselling and testing. Capacity development. Prevention of occupational exposure. Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections. HIV prevention and health promotion programmes. Female empowerment and gender equality programmes. HIV in the workplace programmes. The establishment of HIV workplace programmes in every workplace in the Department can be considered as one of the crucial elements of the prevention programme as it addresses the following: Condom distribution and provision. Peer Education. General awareness on HIV and STI prevention. The prevention of occupational HIV transmission. Condom provision. As mentioned, the distribution and provision of condoms forms part of HIV in the workplace programmes and the department endeavours to have condoms available and easily accessible throughout the DOD, in all workplaces, but also during operational deployments. Peer education. As mentioned previously, peer education forms part of HIV in the workplace programmes, but structured training in this regard is coordinated by the DOD HIV Training Programme. Peer education is performed through formal peer group education training as explained in the HIV Training programme, but also through informal interaction between trained members and their peers. Voluntary counselling and testing. VCT is one of the standard services that must be available in any HIV Programme. The SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) has facilities throughout the country that is currently performing VCT but to enhance the VCT service currently provided, all members of the SAMHS are trained in pre- and post-test counselling skills. This process is part of the DOD HIV Training Programme and ensures uniformity of service throughout the organisation. Capacity building. Members involved in HIV management and prevention require continuous update with regard to new HIV information, management processes, policy and strategy. To facilitate the exchange of such information and to improve communication and coordination in HIV management and prevention, the SAMHS utilise various opportunities for enhancing the knowledge of members, and improving their skills in HIV management. Prevention of occupational exposure. The prevention of HIV transmission in the workplace is one of the important objectives of the HIV Prevention Programme. This does not only involve the prevention of HIV transmission in the hospital setting (eg with needle-stick injuries) but also includes initiatives aimed at preventing HIV transmission on the battlefield and during training. The main focus of this prevention initiative is through training of personnel, awareness with regard to the risk of transmission in the workplace, and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment. Syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections. The effective management of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) has been proven to have a major impact on HIV transmission and the syndromic management of these infections are mandated in the SAMHS through policy. To ensure standardised and uniform treatment throughout the organisation all personnel involved in the treatment of STIs are provided with training in the fundamentals of syndromic management. Health prevention and promotion programmes. Health prevention and promotion programmes can be considered as the grass roots initiative for HIV prevention. These programmes are designed by regional HIV programme managers (HIV Nodal Points) for regional implementation to address specific regional objectives in support of the Masibambisane Campaign. Female empowerment and gender equality programmes. Due to the cultural history and background of the South African society, the issue of female empowerment and the low status of women in society is one of the leading factors that increase the susceptibility of women to HIV transmission. Programmes that specifically focus on this issue form part of the HIV programme of the Department.