Note on HIV Screening in Jail (North Tripura,DAPCU)

Initiatives  on HIV Screening, counseling of Jail Inmates  & Other Prisoners by DAPCU, North Tripura

This is very much urgency of the hour to screen HIV/AIDS among Jail inmates, Juveniles in correctional homes & other prisoners, who have been involved in criminal activity & as a consequence going through confinement. They are also vulnerable & require counseling & a lesson of consciousness among them regarding HIV/AIDS, STD & other related diseases. Prisoners are at special risk for infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) because of overcrowded prisons, unprotected sex, and sexual assault, the occurrence of sexual practices that are risky to health, unsafe injecting practices, and inadequate HIV prevention, care, and support services.

Globally, many studies on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have been undertaken by various government and non-governmental organizations among the general public. There are certain high-risk groups in well-defined but restricted settings who are usually left out from the interventions they deserve especially in developing countries. Inmates of prisons are an example of this left out of the population. Prisoners worldwide have a significantly higher prevalence of HIV than in the community. Prisoners are at special risk for HIV infection because of overcrowded prisons, unprotected sex and sexual assault, the occurrence of sexual practices that are risky to health, unsafe injecting practices, and inadequate HIV prevention, care, and support services.

Considering & observing the above situation, DAPCU, North Tripura has already started the programs & planned to conduct & organize the Campaign in all District Jails since April 2018 & yet well the practice is going on. DAPCU also took the same initiative as per the direction from NACO & through collaborating with TSACS.

The intervention of DAPCU, North Tripura:-  In order to organize the camp at first DPM & DIS, DAPCU met with all Jail authorities  in North & Unakoti District of Tripura & also communicated through the letter. At dist.level, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) is the superintendent of Jail & his concern is necessary to deal with the system & we communicated with SDM & at next we also met with Deputy Jailer. We, fixed date & consequently through the collaboration of TSACS & AD-ICTC. We mobilized Mobile ICTC VAN from SACS on the specific date & venue, that it may also be conducive for inmates & jail authority also.

·         At first, we did a counseling session  with  all jail inmates regarding awareness of HIV/AIDS, Significance of HIV/AIDS screening, etc.As, The knowledge about HIV/AIDS among inmates was high, but misconceptions about HIV/AIDS are still rife among the prisoners and educational programs would be required to correct this. Most of the inmates still display negative attitudes that are likely to encourage stigmatization and discrimination against the PLWHA. This will militate against voluntary counseling and testing as fear of isolation will prevent individuals from being tested. So, DAPCU, North Tripura intervene in this context to remove misconception & to get them tested. At last, everyone got tested after our counseling session & few staffs of jail screened them.

·         Then, one by one came for screening following all the formal procedure ( Such as filling consent form, etc)  & test was done.

·         Handed over the reports to the jail authority & two known reactive found. Consequently, positives did verify & found already existed. However, we again counsel them for medical adherence & to be in touch with a regular medical check-up.

DAPCU North Tripura conducted the campaign as following dates:-

Ø  7^th April 2018:- Dharmanagar Sub  Jail- 61 Screened.

Ø  7^th May 2018:- Kailashahar Dist.Jail-54 Screened.

Ø  6^th September 2018:- Kanchanpur Sub Jail:-24 Screened & 1 Known Positive.

Ø  30th January 2019:-Dharmanagar Sub Jail:-58 screened & 1 known Positive found.

Apart from that, ICTC staffs reach in Jail  on need to screen inmates & whoever found Positive, linkage with FI-ART/ART for medical adherence.

Here, this is very much necessary to mention the whole procedure has been achieved through the integrated effort of DAPCU. In each sphere, DAPCU staffs have managed. Such as, DPM & DIS communicated to organize & on the spot facilitated to do. M&E reported & helped to maintain records. Dist. Accountant helped to organize the said programs. Here, the team of M-ICTC Van were involved & AD-ICTC lead. Here, TI, N-TI, AHANA, respective ICTC’s also helped a lot. Obviously, the Authority of Jails & SDM did co-operate with us to do so.

All HIV-positive inmates have special needs, ART Guidelines for HIV-infected Adults and Adolescents, released by NACO in May 2018, strongly recommend establishing effective linkages between ART and harm-reduction programs. It also states that ART should be given as part of a comprehensive package of prevention (including harm reduction), care and support and treatment. So, in this year also DAPCU will drive for the same practice in September 2019  to do the programs across all jails at Dist. There are 2 Sub-jail at North Tripura & One Dist Jail at kailashahar, Unakoti.  DAPCU has covered all the jails & we have also planned to involve One Juvenile Home in North Tripura under Child Welfare Committee. We may also communicate with the Inspector of Jail Prisons at Agartala.

Photos:-  

Dharmanagar SUB JAIL, North Tripura on 7^th April 2018 during the campaign

Awareness camp cum HIV Screening at Sub District Jail Dharmanagar & Dist Jail,Kailashahar among on trial/convicted Prisoner on 30^th January 2019.