HIV among inmates
THE National Aids Council (Nac) has recommended that further studies be conducted to understand the behaviour of prison inmates in relation to HIV and Aids as a study conducted by the organisation has shown a 28 percent prevalence in prisons and correctional services institutions.
Responding to questions by Parliamentarians during their visit to Whawha Prison in Gweru last week, Nac monitoring and evaluation director Mr Amon Mpofu said further studies on the sexual behaviour of prison inmates as well as identifying the issue of crime and HIV was needed.
He, however, said there was a need to consider Government policies and constitutional issues when addressing the issue of the sexual behaviour of inmates.
“Previous studies that we have conducted in prisons shows that HIV prevalence in prisons was 28 percent. The prevalence was high in females who recorded 36 percent. We are yet to establish whether they acquired HIV while in prison or before they were arrested. There is a need for further studies to be conducted to understand their behaviour and further identify the issue of crime and HIV. There could be an association. However, we need to look at other bigger policies and constitution when dealing with that issue,” he said.
The legislators who were touring Midlands Province with Nac officials had asked on whether the 28 percent HIV prevalence was as a result of the inmates’ sexual behaviour while in prison since they were not allowed to distribute condoms in prisons since there was no legislation allowing conjugal visits for the inmates.
The Parliamentarians toured Silobela District Hospital in Kwekwe where they monitored progress on the pilot project on an integrated cancer screening and HIV testing to increase accessibility of health facilities to young and pregnant women.
Nac also partnered Whawha Prison in a fish farming project where they are breeding over 8 000 Nile breams.
Meanwhile, elderly people in Zvishavane said they wanted a law that governs the dress code of young adults and juveniles to ensure that they do not end up wearing revealing clothes that exposes them to abuse.
Meanwhile, NAC in partnership with Southern African Aids Trust (SAT) has successfully launched an integrated HIV and Aids counselling and testing and cervical cancer screening pilot programme in Silobela area.
In an interview after touring the pilot project in Silobela, Nac communications director Ms Madeline Dube said the programme was mainly targeting young women most of whom were pregnant in an endeavour to increase accessibility to cervical cancer screening.