HIV poses no exceptional risk to prisoners in Camp Street jail

Oct 29, 2008 News

— Erskine
Prisoners are not at exceptional risk of contracting the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) while being incarcerated. This is according to the Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine, in an interview with this newspaper.
The director said that the “prison environment” is not a high risk area for prisoners to contract the virus.
The Georgetown Prisons were designed to confine and punish people, many of whom have committed terrible crimes in society.
He further noted that inmates who are HIV-positive are given the best medication and attention. The director noted that this is made through donor agencies. He added that the Ministry of Health also plays a major part in giving help to the prison.
Erskine further mentioned that inmates are encouraged daily, because HIV is not a death sentence, but the beginning of a new life.
When posed with the question of the “HIV testing polices” which the prison incorporates, he noted that there are systems being set up. He added that these systems would be finished by this year’s end.
He said that the prison HIV community is “small”, but the authorities try to keep it as confidential as possible. The prison authority does not “spread” the information within the prison; it is up to the prisoner, if he feels comfortable to do that, Mr Erskine said.
He contended that the prison authority does not share condoms in the jail, since “buggery” is an offence. The director noted that education in the prison is ongoing and there are donor agencies that assist with awareness.

Director of Prisons, Dale Erskine

However, when this newspaper contacted the Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, he said that prisoners are at an exceptional risk of contracting the virus at the Georgetown Prisons, like every other place.
He added that, with other chronic illnesses, HIV requires health services that are expensive; and with the number of persons who are infected, it places a major fiscal burden on his ministry.
The minister noted that, through the support from his ministry, along with assistance given by the World Bank and PEPFAR, the programme is sustained.
Health Minister Dr Ramsammy added that the Georgetown Prison is a focal point for HIV / AIDS awareness, and his ministry is committed to ensuring that prisoners are given the best of health care.
Mr Erskine noted that the prison population is also plagued by other diseases, “just like the normal society”. These include high blood pressure and diabetes.
This view was also supported by the Health Minister.