Silchar: As many as 11 inmates, including a woman, have tested HIV-positive at the overcrowded Sribhumi District Jail, officials said.The jail houses 445 prisoners against a sanctioned capacity of 187 — nearly 238% occupancy. Of those who tested positive, one is a convict and 10 are undertrial prisoners, said magistrate Anwesha Khersha, in charge of the jail.Jail authorities said most of the inmates were arrested in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.An Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) official said the infections were detected during routine screening under its Prison Intervention Programme for HIV/AIDS.“We cannot say that HIV spread among the inmates inside the prison. The infections may be linked to injecting drug use outside the jail and were detected during routine HIV screening in the prison,” the official said.“Teams from the Assam State AIDS Control Society regularly visit the jail and monitor the inmates. We also have a team of doctors to look after their health,” Khersha said.Inmates requiring specialised or advanced care are referred to Silchar Medical College and Hospital. They are also sent to Sribhumi Civil Hospital when they need additional medical attention, she added.Officials said the HIV-positive inmates were under medical supervision and receiving treatment according to prescribed protocols.
