RAWALPINDI -

In a recent screening test, conducted by Punjab Aids Control Program (PACP) in Adyala Jail, 40 male and female prisoners have been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/Aids), TheNation learnt on Wednesday. 
According to sources, 8 inmates had already been registered as HIV positive while two of them were being provided medical treatment in Adyala Jail. They said the PACP tested over 5,000 prisoners.  They added a medical team of the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) took the blood samples of the inmates and sent it to Lahore for CD4 or T-Cell test to determine the stage of HIV infection.  "These tests will determine the stage of infection, which may depend on a variety of factors including the patient's medical history," sources at the jail hospital said.
A doctor in Adyala Jail, who wished not to be named, said that almost all of HIV/AIDs positive inmates were drug addicts and shared syringes, adding that all of them would be referred to PACP for treatment.
The doctor said that not much preventive steps were taken and the prisoners with HIV were unable to access life-saving drugs. "The HIV is not confined to male prisoners and female inmates have also been severely affected by it" the doctor added.
Adyala Jail Superintendent Malik Mushtaq Ahmed Awan said there were inmates tested HIV positive, during a screening carried out by PACP. However, the he did not know the exact number of afflicted prisoners. "We have been carrying AIDs screening tests on monthly basis and mostly drug addicts who use and share syringes are diagnosed with HIV/AIDs."
PACP Project Director Dr Sulman Shahid said that there were cases detected in Adyala Jail but he could not tell the accurate numbers of patients there.  He said that his department had imparted training to doctors and technical staff inside jails and provided them with necessary equipment to screen patients for the disease. He said that that a total of 60,000 tests would be conducted under PACP across the province.
Dr Suleman said that he would discuss the matter with Punjab Prisons Inspector General Mian Farooq and would share the accurate number with the media.