HIV programme for Sajiwa jail inmates kick starts

HIV programme for Sajiwa jail inmates kick starts

Imphal, December 15 2010: Recognising the rights of people in incarcerated settings to adequate health initiatives, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) in partnership with Jail Department and Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) initiated a programme today to reach out to people in prisons and check the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The prison intervention to be initiated at the Sajiwa jail will provide requisite knowledge and skills on prevention of drug use and HIV/AIDS with the aim of initiating behaviour change among the prison community, said a press release.

The launch of the intervention today in Sajiwa jail, was attended by the SP, Central Jail, other officials and members of MNP+ .

Themthing, SP Central Jail, said, "Such an initiative has been required in Sajiwa jail where a large number of inmates are drug users.

A few inmates are HIV positive and they are on Anti retro viral therapy.

Linking prisons to external health services and making them available within the prison is important” .

Currently around 620 male inmates are lodged in the Sajiwa jail while around 38 female are lodged in the Central jail in Imphal.

Sajiwa has witnessed incidence of inmates with history of drug use.

"The percentage of drug users among the inmates could be as high as 20 to 30 percent and it is our responsibility to look after their health”, stated Themthing.