The Lesotho
Correctional Services (LCS) procured 10
prefabricated offices (parkhomes) as well as
office furniture and medical equipment to
strengthen provision of quality health services
among inmates in all correctional institutions
in the country.
The 10 prefabricated offices are comprised of
two rooms, one used for HIV Counseling and
Testing (HCT) and the other for consultation and
examination. There are also two bathrooms for
male and female. The offices are distributed in
all district correctional service institutions
while in Maseru the prefab went to Female
prison.
All the above equipment were procured with the
help of Global Fund Round 8 HIV grant aimed at
supporting Lesotho Correctional Services to
create conducive working environment for inmates
as well as staff working with inmates, by timely
detecting and treating Tuberculosis as well as
timely provision of Voluntary HIV testing and
treatment of Opportunistic Infections and ensure
treatment adherence especially among inmates in
correctional institutions.
Most of the correctional institutions in the
country have limited space and therefore they
had no space for a health clinic. Some had to
share the one-room with other departments such
as rehabilitation and therefore when they have
clients, other officers have to vacate to give
patients confidentiality.
Therefore these additional prefabricated offices
provided space and confidentiality of patients
while office furniture and medical equipment
help the LCS health staff to improve quality
health services.
Among the assets procured are prefabricated
office, desk and chairs for officers, patient
chairs, double door stationery cabinets, filling
cabinets, desktop computers and printers, gas
heaters, pharmacy refrigerators, washing
machines, steel foldable tables, jacketed pots
and jacketed steam kettle as well as 2 lap top
computers and 2 multi media projectors. The
equipment is distributed in all correctional
institutions in the country.
In an interview with Butha Buthe correctional
Institution Nurse Mr. Malefane Malefane thanked
for equipment saying it helped to improve his
work. This institution deployed a nurse in 2001
and since then only one inmate died because of
TB in 2008. “Right now we diagnose and treat TB
on time to prevent its spread to other people.
We also have peer education and condom dispenser
for easy access.”
In Butha Buthe there are 30 HIV positive
inmates, 20 of them are already in treatment
while 10 are still health but three of them are
using cotrimoxazole to treat opportunistic
infections. At the moment there are no TB or bed
ridden patients.
Another institution is Leribe. This is the
regional prison with inmate population of 350.
57 of the inmates are HIV positive and 29 of
them are on ARV. “There was one TB patient but
was released from prison last week,” said the
Leribe Nursing Officer Hlolang Ramphai. So far
there is no follow-up of the released inmates to
their community but refer them to nearby
hospitals. In 2010 there were 8 TB patients, but
later all were diagnosed with HIV-TB
co-infection and were treated. This regional
office also has a Pharmacist and health
inspector.
In Mohale’s hoek 38 inmates are on ARV and no TB
patient, in Qacha 10 inmates on ARV with 1 TB
patient, in Quthing out of 96 inmates’
population 8 on ARV treatment, 3 practise
positive leaving not on treatment and 1 TB
patient.
Most inmates have no problem to know their HIV
status. The test is usually conducted by nurses
at the correctional institutions or sometimes
invites Population Services International (PSI)
to conduct health talk/group counseling and
voluntary test. Most of inmates learnt their HIV
status in prison while some of them came inside
while they are already in treatment and report
their case to the clinic. All institutions have
HIV support groups where they share experiences
and encourage each other. However, continuous
health education is important to ensure health
living and behavior change upon their release.
