|
|
| Prisons Cannot Manage AIDS Plight |
| By Business Day |
| Published: 09/29/2003 |
|
A report on HIV/AIDS in South African prisons that suggests that the correctional services department is struggling to turn its written policy on the pandemic into reality, has upset many officials. The report, by Washington-based researcher KC Goyer, also suggests that correctional services do not know the real extent of HIV/AIDS in prisons. Goyer's research on Westville Medium B prison in KwaZuluNatal, the only study conducted on HIV prevalence in a South African prison, is still being reviewed by the department, which insists that there are a number of inaccuracies. Goyer has also compiled a report, released by the Institute of Security Studies on HIV/AIDS, omitting her Westville prison research, but including interviews with a number of correctional service employees, administrators and psychologists. Irrespective of the debate, data from both Goyer and the department suggest there is a very real problem in prisons that urgently requires attention. The institute's report says 45.2% of the 175,000 people in prison are estimated to have HIV. When they are eventually freed, they take their illnesses back to their communities, who are often poverty stricken. Correctional services says it has approximately 5,000 confirmed HIV-positive prisoners, but admits that this figure accounts only for prisoners who have volunteered to be tested, "and these cannot provide a basis for generalisation". Last year the department suggested that the current estimate of 3% of the prison population might be HIV-positive could be "unrealistically low", but when the inspecting judge of prisons, Judge Johannes Fagan, estimated that the figure could be closer to 60%, the department disputed the information as "unrealistic and unreliable". According to the institute's report, the problem with the lack of accurate figures on HIV in prisons, is that the prison population is in constant flux, with about 25,000 people released or jailed each month, or 300,000 prisoners returning to the community each year. Correctional services spokesman Russel Mamabolo says the department is conducting a prevalence survey in prisons, but because "HIV/AIDS is a pandemic internationally, the department is taking the necessary steps as per the national AIDS strategy to deal with the impact on the department". A 1999 study of postmortem reports found that 90% of deaths in custody were from AIDS-related causes. Using figures from the previous five years, and assuming the escalation would continue the study projected that by 2010 nearly as many as 45000 prisoners would die. "Inside prison, high-risk behaviour for transmitting HIV includes homosexual activity, intravenous drug use, and the use of contaminated cutting instruments (for tatooing)," she says. Goyer says that while the department has some good policies in place, they are not always implemented well. "Recommended HIV/AIDS policies will accomplish little in the absence of basic prison reforms," she says. Overcrowding, stress and malnutrition weakens overall health, especially of people living with HIV or AIDS. In terms of the department's policy, it implemented a number of programmes to try and prevent HIV transmission in prisons. Clinics for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases were to be provided at all prison hospitals, where diet supplements and counseling would be given to any prisoners with HIV/AIDS. Condoms would be given to prisoners provided they had undergone education and counseling on AIDS, the use of condoms and the danger of high-risk behaviour. A member of the nursing staff was appointed provincial HIV/AIDS coordinator to advise heads of prisons, and to monitor the clinics and the various education programmes. Prisoners told institute researchers, however, that they could not ask for HIV/AIDS tests because of cost constraints, and could be tested only at the request of a doctor. Prisoners were reluctant to ask for condoms because they first faced lectures on their sexual practices. The provincial co-ordinators said they were overworked and they were forced to use their own vehicles without adequate reimbursement. The department admits that overcrowding in prisons remains a "serious challenge" but denies a discrepancy between policy and implementation. Mamabolo says that not only may prisoners request AIDS tests, but "rapid results tests" are readily available. Condoms are distributed where prisoners "can easily access them discreetly". He says there is also no such thing as "insufficient nutrition". "Prisoners receive a balanced diet, and a special diet for those recommended by medical practitioners." This is disputed by Golden Miles Bhudu of the SA Prisoners' Organisation for Human Rights, who says prisoners are fed their last meal at 3pm. Lunch and dinner can be combined in very large prisons when lock-up needs to be moved forward. He says prisoners who are fortunate enough to have money are able to buy food from kitchen staff which they then cook in their cells. SA has joined the ranks of countries involved in legal battles arising from HIV transmission in prison. A number of cases have been filed in the US and two prisoners in Australia have taken legal action against prisons for failing to provide measures to prevent the spread of HIV. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think