THE Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) says over 3,000 inmates living with HIV countrywide are on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
Speaking when he graced the Zambia Correctional Service commemoration of World AIDS Day held at Solwezi Correctional Facility, ZCS Heath Deputy Director and Senior Assistant Commissioner Malimba Moola said the country has recorded a tremendous reduction in HIV prevalence among inmates to 14.3 percent in the past 10 years.
Dr. Moola called for continued prison-specific interventions to address the challenge posed by HIV, adding that the Service has been employing different strategies.
He further said inmates are among the key populations that should not be left behind if the country is to achieve the UNAIDS global target of reaching 95-95-95 by 2030.
“Currently, there are 3,982 inmates on Life saving ARVs and ZCS has not been spared by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Inmates are a key population who can easily be forgotten in the fight against HIV/AIDS if appropriate, prison-specific interventions are not employed,” he said.
He also acknowledged the continued support that the Service has been receiving from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs and Cooperating partners in addressing the challenges caused by HIV/AIDS among inmates.
And ZCS Northwestern Regional Commanding Officer Alfred Kalota indicated that Solwezi Central Correctional Facility is currently hosting a total number of 474 inmates.
Mr Kalota has called on stakeholders to join hands and fight any form of discrimination against people living with HIV.
Meanwhile, Prison Health Advisory Committee Chairperson (CIDRZ) Mwaka Chilinya called on people including inmates to take action in their individual capacity by getting tested and seeking treatment to make a difference in the fight against the epidemic.
Mr Chilinya emphasized the importance of renewed sense of purpose in fighting HIV beyond World AIDS Day celebration.
“Let us also remember that the fight against HIV is not just about the disease but about addressing the conditions that allow it to thrive. This means tackling stigma, poverty, inequality, and lack of education. Only by addressing these root causes can we truly achieve a world free from AIDS,” he said.
Meanwhile, an inmate who spoke on condition of anonymity highlighted the challenge of overcrowding which he said is contributing to inmates contracting communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis.