HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis epidemic in prisons

INFECTION levels of HIV and Hepatitis C have reached epidemic proportions in prisons, according to a new report.

The rate of Hepatitis C among prisoners is more than 100 times higher than in the general population and the level of HIV more than 10 times higher. One in four prisoners is infected with Hepatitis C, the potentially fatal liver disease. The rate rises to 50% among female prisoners.

“Make no mistake. This is a crisis,” said Rick Lines, author of A Call for Action: HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C in Irish Prisons. “Rates of HIV and Hepatitis C have reached epidemic levels in Irish prisons.” Mr Lines said prisons’ problem was also society’s problem.

“The high degree of mobility between prison and community means any illnesses or health conditions developed or aggravated in prison do not stay there. When individuals are released from jail prison health issues necessarily become community health issues.”

He said Ireland was not unique in infection rates in prisons, but the Government’s response fell far short of approaches adopted by many other countries. The report, commissioned by the Irish Penal Reform Trust and Merchants Quay Ireland, recommends:

Access to condoms, full strength bleach for cleaning needles and syringe exchange programmes be implemented as a matter of urgency

Expansion of the prison service’s methadone programme to prisons outside Dublin and available to those already on programmes prior to imprisonment and who want to begin treatment in prisons (currently excluded).

HIV and Hepatitis C education be made available to prisoners and staff.

Doctors and other health care staff be made available on a full time basis in larger prisons.

Confidential HIV and Hepatitis C testing be made easily accessible to all prisoners.

Governor of Mountjoy Jail John Lonergan said there had been a lot of progress in prisons over the years, but agreed much more needed to be done.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health ordered a review of Methadone protocol, introduced in 1998 to regularise the dispensing of the heroin substitute.