600 inmates are HIV positive - Prisons chief

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 13.03.2008

THE Deputy Conttroller General (DCG) of Prisons, Dr. Hassan Labo, has disclosed that about 600 prison inmates in Nigeria are HIV positive.

Dr. Labo, who heads the Directorate of Health and Welfare unit of the Nigerian Prisons Service, said this in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune.

He spoke after declaring open a 10-day workshop organised by the service for prison officers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who handle HIV inmates.

According to Dr. Labo, the data was generated in the last survey done across the country’s prisons in 2003, adding that the prevalence rate was expected to be lower than the figure by the time the next survey would be carried out.

He based his optimism on the fact that the service had, since 2003, taken measures to reduce the spread of the virus among inmates.

The prisons chief, however, made it clear that inmates would not be subjected to compulsory HIV test as this would violate their fundamental human rights.

Also speaking, a Controller, Mrs. Nkemjika Nwosu, said HIV tests were for inmates who voluntarily offered themselves to be tested to know their status.

She added that the purpose of the workshop was to prepare the prison officers to be counsellors providing pre and post counseling services and testing clients who are willing to know their viral status.