HIV numbers rise behind bars

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HIV numbers rise behind bars

TNN, Oct 1, 2010, 01

HYDERABAD: State prisons are turning into HIV hubs with a three-fold rise in the

number of fresh HIV cases detected in various prisons this year.

Figures collated by a state government body which works closely with HIV

positive persons throws up the alarming fact: as against the 119 prisoner from

across the state who tested positive for HIV in 2009, the count this year has

touched 362 as on date. The period between April to August this year alone saw

the number touch the 239 mark. Also, HIV accounts for 30 per cent of the average

100-120 prison deaths each year in the state.

More alarming is the fact that these figures are only approximate. For, there is

no mandatory HIV screening of prisoners at the time of admission and thus

officials admit that they are not aware of HIV status of many inmates in various

state prisons. " Some persons consider HIV tests to be taboo and do not give

their consent to be screened. Even though they belong to the high risk group,

their status remains unknown, " said R V Chandravadan, project director of AP

state AIDS control society (APSACS).

With rampant instances of men having sex with men (MSM) once they are secluded

from mainstream society and confined to their barracks, this figure is a fair

indicator of the vulnerability of other prisoners, which is now manifest in the

form of diseases.

" A large number of them are presently suffering from genital ulcer disease (GUD)

which results from having unnatural forms of sex. Once diagnosed with such

diseases, they become ten times more susceptible to acquiring AIDS at a later

date, " said a medical practitioner who recently visited and interacted with

medical officers of two central prisons in the state.

With APSACS having introduced its 'Raksha' project in state prisons in February

last year as part of which prisoners are screened and those carrying the HIV

infection sent for treatment, the mechanism is presently in place. But no

decision has been taken yet by the prison authorities to keep a check on the HIV

positive count once APSACS concludes its intervention programme next year.

" Habitual offenders who keep coming back to prison for petty crimes often

indulge in unsafe sex outside and have multiple partners thus posing a threat to

other inmates,'' said a prison superintendent.

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