15 inmates of Haridwar jail have tested positive for HIV in a worrying outbreak of the virus This has created massive health and safety apprehensions about the inmates being kept within jail as well as healing infrastructure of same within prison.
This urgent state has really put considerable concern on health and safety at correction facility, away from the inmates upto basic facilities related to treatment of sick.
Now that the cases have been unearthed, health authorities and prison administrators are taking immediate steps. There is a full blown screening process to find and quarantine any more victims, so that the virus doesnt spread in Haridwar jail.
“Prisons take the health and welfare of our prisoners as a top priority,” said a senior prison officer. “This novel coronavirus is being contained with our partners from Health authorities and making sure those affected are provided proper medical attention and care.’
The cases of infection are currently being investigated. This includes things like drug users sharing needles, unprotected sex in prison and poor hygiene, among others. Health workers in the area are also looking into the possibility that people were able to sneak into the Haridwar prison free of infection screening.
The 15 inmates are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), necessary for HIV management and to prevent its progression to be AIDS. Prison officials have pledged to keep supporting the treated inmates throughout, as well as counseling them continually as necessary.
The above incident has brought out the need of better healthcare infrastructure in prisons to be created across the board. Doing this is critical, experts say — regular HIV testing; providing clean needles for drug users and comprehensive sex education in the communities that would prevent future epidemics.
This scenario with the jail at Haridwar is an example of how correctional institutions find it hard to deal with infectious diseases. The bad hygiene and unhealthy conditions that one often will observe in prisons are significant contributors to the spread of diseases so it was important to prevent via controls.
CDC and State prison officials are implementing heightened post booking screening for new inmates as well as ongoing healthcare services to health authorities. It is to make sure that the Haridwar jail or any other prison are disease-free and healthy for the prisoners. But this scenario comes at huge ethical cost to there care and safety of incarcerated.
