TAXILA: Inmates in overcrowded 42 prisons of Punjab are vulnerable to a possible outbreak of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis B and C.

This was pointed out by health experts and psychologists during an awareness session for prison inmates at Attock jail on Monday.

The session was organised to sensitise inmates about prevention and cure from both deadly diseases.

According to data, Punjab prisons house 272 inmates who are suffering from HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) while 517 prisoners tested positive for hepatitis C in 33 jails.

The speakers said the Punjab government had decided to provide medicines for life-threatening diseases in jails across the province. Jail sources said patients suffering from life-threatening diseases were confined in 10 jails of Punjab.

They said about 1,000 patients of hepatitis, asthma, skin cancer and AIDs were imprisoned in jails.

They said that the Punjab government started interventions in high-risk groups to contain the spread of the epidemic.

These high risk groups include male and female commercial sex workers, drug users and jail inmates.

They said that an estimated 130,000 HIV-infected people are living in Pakistan while major high risk groups of HIV AIDS prevalence are long distance truck drivers, female sex workers, transgender persons, drug users, jail inmates, children born to infected parents, street children and victims of unsafe medical procedures.

They added that studies from developed countries have consistently reported very high HCV antibody prevalence among prison inmates.

Precautionary measures are essential towards remaining safe from these diseases, the speakers said.

Jail Deputy Superintendent Afzaal Ahmed Warriach said that Punjab Prisons Department engaged the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department for treatment through its various programmes.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2023