34 test positive for HIV in Varanasi jails

VARANASI: Thirty-four prisoners lodged at district and central jails of Varanasi have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) over the last few months, jail officials said.

The incident comes days after 23 prisoners tested positive for HIV in Gorakhpur district jail.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports claiming spread of HIV infection in UP jails, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also issued a notice to chief secretary and inspector general (prisons) on March 7 seeking a detailed report within six weeks.

Superintendents of Varanasi district and central jails said 23 and 11 prisoners, respectively, had tested positive for HIV when they were tested at the time of being imprisoned.

According to jail administration, 1,836 inmates are lodged in district jail, while 1,650 prisoners are in the central jail.

Prisoners the world over have a higher risk of HIV infection than the general population.

“People who are already more likely to be exposed to HIV, including people who use drugs, sex workers, and gay men and other men who have sex with men, are over-represented in prisons and other closed settings. Overcrowding increases vulnerability to infections such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis,” according to Unaids Gap report.

Senior superintendent of Varanasi central jail Ambarish Gaud said 11 inmates had tested HIV positive and they were undergoing anti-retroviral therapy to treat HIV.

“We have a centre for HIV testing on the jail premises,” Gaud said.

“Before imprisonment, all inmates get tested for HIV after counselling. If anyone is diagnosed HIV positive, ART treatment begins and they are also provided a special diet,” he said.

Superintendent of district jail PK Trivedi said: “Treatment of the 22 inmates with HIV has begun. Another inmate who had tested positive was released on Thursday as he had completed his sentence. We ensure everyone with HIV have their medicines and diet and undergo counselling,” he said.

Trivedi said blood samples of inmates were collected for HIV testing twice a week. “Most of the HIV positive inmates revealed that they got infected by contaminated needles which they used for taking drugs,” he added.

Gaud and Trivedi have sent their reports to the jail headquarters in Lucknow.