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GENEVA, Oct 28 2015 – Guyana has told an international conference here that it supports moves to provide treatment for people in prisons who are suffering from the HIV/AIDS virus.
“I wish to state in advance that I am in full support of accelerating an increased access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services for people in prisons and other closed settings.
“Whilst we are all aware of the risk for HIV in prisons and closed settings, our response in many ways have been lagging and therefore the time is opportune that we prioritise this population,” Health Minister Dr. George Norton told the UNAIDS 37th Programme Coordinating Board.
He said that in order that an impact is made, the issue must be tackled at all levels including at the policy stage.
The Guyana Health Minister said that there was also need for more openness and that the discussion has to be transparent on matters such as access to HIV education and testing and the controversial distributions of condoms in prisons.
