AIDS education scheme for MP jail inmates

May 13, 2002

The Pioneer 9 May, 2002-Sanjeev Majupuria

An effort is being mad to create awareness about HIV/AIDS among the jail inmates

of Madhya Pradesh, thanks to State Director General of Prisons S.P. Dungwal.

Since the jail inmates are more prone to homo-sexual behaviour that put them to

a greater danger of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, a campaign to

educate the 29,000 inmates, including 650 females, about HIV/AIDS was launched,

said Mr. Dungwal.

He informed that the programme was being carried with the help of MP State AIDS

Control Society (MPSACS). The first programme based on information, education

and communication (IEC) concept was held at the Central Jail in Ujjain. Health

Minster Subhash Kumar Saujatia had inaugurated the programme. Besides Ujjan, IEC

programmes would be conducted at jails in Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Sagar and

Jabalpur.

There are 12 central jails and 23 district jails in MP. The MPSACS has drawn up

a sustained IEC plan for creating awareness among the jail inmates and staff

about HIV/AIDS. MPSACS Project Director Surya Pratap Singh Parihar has been

taking considerable interest in the programme, said Mr. Dungwal. The entire IEC

programme was being funded by the MPSACS, he said. During the preliminary

scrutiny, an undertrial at Morena jail was found to be HIV positive. The IEC

programmes would also be conducted for around 100 minor inmates of the Borstal

Institute at Narsinghpur. MPSACS Project Director Surya Pratap Singh Parihar

said that there was a need to devise innovative approaches for interacting with

risk groups. Under the IEC, Mr. Parihar said, focus is on increasing awareness

about prevention of HIV/AIDS and removing myths regarding the disease.

In order to spread awareness about the disease, Mr. Dungwal said, posters and

booklets, provided by the MPSACS, are being distributed among the inmates.

He was quite optimistic about success of the drive. Apart from jail inmates,

jail staff, doctors and para-medical personnel deployed in the jails would also

be covered under the IEC. Ideally such programmes need to be conducted on a

regular basis, opined Mr. Parihar. Around 1,000 cases have been detected in

Madhya Pradesh so far.

___________________________

Dr.Jagdish Harsh ( jharsh@... )

Director of Administration and Operations

François-Xavier Bagnoud INDIA ( www.fxb.org )

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