Inmates at the Lusignan Prison who are suffering from infectious diseases particularly HIV, will now be housed apart from the prison population to facilitate their treatment.
On Thursday the facility, which is referred to as the High Dependency Care Unit (HDCU) was officially handed over to the prison during the Guyana Prison Service’s (GPS) 24th anniversary week of activities. In his address, Director of Prisons Dale Erskine said the HDCU is part of an effort to deliver health care to prisoners especially those infected with HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS. In preparation for the World Bank-funded project, prison officers were trained to manage sick inmates. A special clinic will also be set up at the prison once a month to assess sick inmates.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, in his address, highlighted the collaboration between the government and the World Bank through the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project. The project aims to prevent and control the spread of the disease within agencies that fall under the purview of his ministry, mainly the GPS, the Guyana Police Force, the General Registrar’s Office and the Police Complaints Authority.
According to Rohee, the ministry’s response to HIV/AIDS in prisons meets international health and human rights standards and is grounded in best practices in support of the effective management of HIV-positive prisoners and prisoners living with AIDS. He said that the response incorporates Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 25 of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Rohee also pointed out that “any medical condition made worse by conditions in prisons becomes larger issues for public health when prisoners are released,” and as such reducing the transmission of HIV in prisons is integral to reducing transmissions in the general population.
Meanwhile, Erskine told Stabroek News the HDCU will impact greatly on how the prison service delivers health care to the inmates. He said some of the sick prisoners were brought from Georgetown and the focus will be on housing in a health environment. He thanked the health ministry for giving the GPS officers the necessary training and pointed out that the Unit will bring relief to those persons who are HIV-positive.
The Unit has sixteen beds, eleven are occupied. The inmates said they are very impressed with the steps taken and that they have been treated well at the facility. They also said they are comfortable and thanked the minister for making the facility a reality.
The Lusignan Prison houses short-sentence prisoners and those who are completing sentences. There are currently 147 inmates and all are involved in agriculture, which is being used as a way for positive reintegration into society upon release. (Zoisa Fraser)
