A.I.D.S. Testing For Prisoners (Press, 3 September 1985)
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Summary: A.I.D.S. Testing For Prisoners (Press, 3 September 1985)
A.I.D.S. testing has commenced at Mount Eden Prison in Auckland, providing an opportunity for inmates who feel at risk to get tested. Several prisoners have opted to undergo testing, and all results thus far have returned negative, as confirmed by prison superintendent Mr Humphrey Stroud. He highlighted the challenge of managing contagious diseases in the prison, which accommodates approximately 5,000 individuals annually, but noted that A.I.D.S. has not yet posed a problem within the facility. The prison’s medical officer is currently formulating a response plan in case an inmate tests positive for the virus. Last week, an A.I.D.S. seminar organised by the Probation Service discussed preventive measures, including the provision of clean needles to drug-using inmates to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading. Ms Kate Leslie, chairperson of the A.I.D.S. Foundation, emphasised the crucial need for easily accessible condoms for homosexual acts within prisons, though she observed that incarceration facilities have not yet implemented this. Ms Leslie pointed out that prisons are particularly vulnerable to A.I.D.S. since the presence of just one infected person could put the entire inmate population at risk. In contrast, A.I.D.S. testing has not yet been initiated in Christchurch prisons. Dr G. A. Shanks, who provides medical care at Paparua Prison, expressed surprise that testing kits were available in Auckland, as he has not received any for use in Christchurch. He remains eager for the testing kits to become available in his region, recognising the high-risk nature of prisons concerning the disease.
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