HIV one of toughest hurdles for African prisons

Nineteen heads of correctional services in Africa have vowed to work together continuously towards finding solutions for the challenges facing African prisons. The prison services heads met at the Ezulwini Convention Centre in Swaziland.

They have agreed that overcrowding, HIV/Aids, the slow justice system and inadequate medical care are the major problems facing African prisons. The new chairperson of the Conference of Eastern, Southern and Central African (Cesca) Heads of Correctional Services, Mnguni Simelane, says the resolutions from this conference will make their penal institutions more effective and efficient.

Lesotho's correctional services head of health unit, Phoka Scout, says educating inmates about the dangers of engaging in sexual activities is the only way to address the high HIV infection rate in the African prisons.

“We have taken a decision to make available condoms and gloves in our prisons. However, sodomy is still a crime in Lesotho but an administrative decision was taken to avail condoms and gloves to inmates in our prisons. We've also trained both inmates and staff as peer educators and in home based care. We've also continued to train them as lay counsellors…” said Scout.