Access to HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC), Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) are among interventions put in place to combat HIV in correctional institutions. This was said by Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) of health in Lesotho Correctional Institutions (LCS) when presenting on HIV programming during NAC annual partnership forum held in Maseru on June 16, 2011.

He mentioned that all correctional institutions have established health clinics for inmates which are operated under one nursing sister per prison. Nutritionists and pharmacy technologists were also deployed in regional offices to assist with nutrition and pharmacy issues.

According to LCS health reports, the total number of inmates that access voluntary HTC in 2009 and 2010 respectively were in South region 105 and 229, in Northern region 33 and 265 while in central is 335 and 329 respectively. The inmates on ART in 2009 and 2010 stand as follows: South region 56 and 58, Northern region is 59 and 74, and Central region is 78 and 88 respectively.

Through Global Fund R8 grant, prefabricated offices as well as office furniture were procured to improve clinic to be able to provide confidential counseling and treatment services. At the moment management of Opportunistic Infections (OIs) except TB are referred to these internal clinics. Condoms and Information, Education and Communications (IEC) materials are distributed free to inmates while pregnant female inmates receive PMTCT services.

Through partners like UNICEF and Kick for life, all youths at Juvenile Training Centre (JTC) are trained on HIV and AIDS and life skills to enable them to make informed decisions while NAC helped LCS in development of HIV and AIDS policy and strategy. Meanwhile the main support in health issues is provided by the Ministry of Health.

In his presentation SAC Phoka Scout said the main focus of the intervention is to prevent more infections and to provide treatment, care and support for the infected inmates. In addition, the workplace program that focuses mainly on staff is currently in place where staff is trained on HIV and TB to know their status and provide care and support to each other.

Mr. Scout mentioned among the partners that make all the interventions successful are Sesotho media, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), Matsopa communications, Care – Lesotho, Kick for life, UNICEF, Global Fund grants, MOHSW, ADRA and Lesotho Red Cross Society.

He indicated among the challenges face HIV and AIDS and health programs are financial constraint to implement health related programs, poor Monitoring and evaluation system, poor and old infrastructure, low agricultural production hinders diet improvement, poor environmental hygiene, and overcrowding is the major challenge related to health of inmates especially in case of TB suspects.

Meanwhile the participants applauded LCS for implementing programs to care and support health of inmates. The participants said that where there is a will there is always a way therefore all LCS health plans will be fulfilled to make the national correctional institutions a health place to correct criminals to go back to the community healthy.