The Monitor Newspaper Published
Thursday Edition 1st Oct 2009
Homosexuality blamed for HIV/AIDS spread in prisonsIsaac Khisa & Christine Katende
Kampala
Homosexuality has been identified as one of the factors that have contributed to high HIV/AIDS prevalence among male inmates.
A report released yesterday by the
United Nations on Drug and Crime
shows that HIV/AIDS prevalence in male prisoners is at 13 per cent
whereas among the females it stands at 11 per cent out of 490 prisoners
surveyed throughout the country in 2008.
This rate is however higher compared to the national HIV/AIDS prevalence that stands at 6.5 per cent.
A total of 392 male and 98 females were interviewed in addition to focus group discussions and HIV/AIDS testing and counseling.
This was revealed during an advocacy and policy dialogue meeting on
prisons health services on HIV/AIDS and
Tuberculosis in
Kampala
yesterday. The Commissioner General, Dr Johnson Byabashaija, attributed
the high rate among male inmates to homosexuality.
He however, said
many inmates are coerced into homosexuality.
“The highest numbers of inmates are normally convicted when they are already infected with HIV/AIDS,” Dr Byabashaija said.
Mr Byabashaija said there’s need to educate inmates about the dangers
of homosexuality. He said homosexuality is an offence that carries
a two or three year jail term. Sharing razor blades was also cited among ways the disease is spread.
The Executive Director of the AIDS Information Centre, Dr Raymond
Byaruhanga, said the country still has a lot to do in the fight against
the
epidemic given that it is higher among the inmates.
The country has 1.5million people living with HIV/AIDS, but only 17,5000 receive ARV treatment.
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