340 INMATES FOUND WITH HIV/AIDS POSITIVE

By Times Observer Reporter

Dar es Salaam

ABOUT 340 among 15,250 prisoners who tested HIV/AIDS last year were found positive, it has been learnt.

The testing was conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health after the two ministries conducted free testing education on HIV/AIDS.

Speaking yesterday during presenting health status report on HIV/AIDS, use of illicit drugs and availability of infectious treatment drugs for prisons in Tanzania for the year 2018, at a female prison at Kingolwira prison in Morogoro, Home Affairs’ Deputy Minister, Eng. Hamad Masauni, said among them 292 males and 48 females were found with HIV/AIDS infections.

“The ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health experts would make sure that health services are improved at all prisons across the country.  Currently, about 1,496 prisoners use ARVs in prisons,” he said, adding;

“Tuberculosis education is given every day in prisons to prisoners and others who are in prison custody.

“In 2017, about 12,870 tested their status and 167 prisoners were found with HIV/AIDS.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with United Nations Office of Drugs Crime (UNODC) developed a five years strategic plan on TB and HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Speaking separately after the visit tour of HAIV/AIDS parliamentary committee members to Kingolwira female prison, MPs applauded the prison’s management for well treatment of female prisoners who live with HIV/AIDS calling the effected prisoners to be good ambassadors to those who have not been affected.

For his part, the Head of Nutrition and Health Services from Prison Headquarters, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Mkwiche said all prisons in Tanzania have a tendency to make regular check-ups for inmate in a first day when entering the facility.

“We normally check status of HIV/AIDS, TB, pregnancy and other diseases so as to identify the special need of inmates. When a prisoner enters the prison, she/he is going to face different activities, so after testing we also know the diet,” he said.

He said the government continues to improve and provide health services to inmate prisoners across the country whereas by 2018, the government constructed a dispensary at Morogoro prison.