Mumbai: In the last three years, 133 inmates from the Byculla and Arthur Road Jails have tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), for which they are receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) at a centre set up on the jail premises.
“It has been observed that the HIV cases are comparatively higher among female inmates than their male counterparts. Of the 133 inmates who tested positive, 77 are females. They are undergoing treatment at the ART centre in Arthur Road Jail,” said a jail official. Dr Shrikala Acharya, additional project director, MDACS, said there is the possibility that inmates are also suffering from other diseases too.
Since most inmates are addicted to drugs and alcohol, it contributes to the co-morbidities. “The inmates were probably HIV-infected even before their incarceration. But it is detected only when doctors conduct health check-ups in the jail,” said Dr Achraya. She added, “Since it is not feasible for them to inspect all the inmates at once, a health camp was organised, which revealed that 26 cases of HIV had been reported from December 2018 to March 2019.”
Dr Ishwar Gilada, president of the AIDS Society of India (ASI) said, it is likely there are high numbers of HIV cases among these people as they are not diagnosed in time and therefore, are not registered at the ART centres. “Inmates should be subjected to a complete health check-up before being sent to jail, so other inmates are not affected. Also, those who test positive should immediately begin getting treatment,” he said.