The document discusses Kenya Red Cross's work on HIV/AIDS in prisons and other areas of confinement. It notes that HIV prevalence and incidence rates are increasing in prisons due to poor living conditions and lack of access to healthcare. Kenya Red Cross aims to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention among prison communities through peer education programs. It has provided voluntary counseling and testing, nutritional supplements, and home-based care. While progress has been made in reducing stigma and increasing knowledge, challenges remain such as condom access in male prisons and sustainability after staff transfers.

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KHALDA .M. MOHAMMED
KENYA RED CROSS
Tel 020608613, 020608680
Khalda_moha@yahoo.com
khaldamm@hotmail.com
www.kenyeredcross.org

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HIV & AIDS IN PRISON
AND OTHER AREAS
OF CONFINMENT

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VISION STATEMENT
To be the leading humanitarian
organisation in Kenya, self
sustaining, delivering excellent
quality service of preventing and
alleviating human suffering to the
most vulnerable in the community

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MISSION STATEMENT
To build capacity and respond with
vigour, compassion and empathy to
those affected by disaster and at risk,
in the most effective and efficient
manner.

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HIV/AIDS is one amongst many other
programs undertaken by Kenya Red
Cross (KRC).

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Its goal is to work with the government
and other partners to reduce the
prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS
through increasing knowledge on HIV &
AIDS transmission, prevention,
improving coping mechanisms and to
improve the quality of life of persons
living with and affected by HIV & AIDS
through improved care and support.

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The government prison reform
policies has contributed a lot
in the reduction of HIV
incidence rate in the
prisons.
True or False?

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WHY?
The prisons contain PLHIV who are
serving both long and short term
sentences.
Many of them do not get access to the
comprehensive care services while in
their jail term.

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A bigger percentage detects their HIV
status once their immune systems is
compromised and are suffering from
opportunistic infection.
There is a growing concern of the HIV
incidence rate and stigma in prisons.

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HOW?
Through interviews, FGDs conducted
we realized gaps in the inmates
accessing essential Reproductive
Health Services.
The situation warranted a peer
education programme targeting
inmates and prison warders.

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WHAT DO WE AIM TO ACHIEVE?
1. To assess knowledge, skills and
attitudes of prison community there
hence increase awareness on HIV &
AIDS.
2. To identify viable intervention for
behaviour change.
3. To enhance access to RH services
which includes VCT, support systems
for the Infected and affected.

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What do you think is the current HIV &
AIDS situation within the prison set
up?
And how has it manifested itself?

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KEY FINDINGS
• Cross infection and incidence rate is
increasing as a result of poor living
conditions and sexual malpractices
such as sodomy, sexual assaults.
• Drug adherence is failing because of
lack of treatment supporters and
proper nutrition.

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Cont…
• The system limits an enabling
environment for immediate follow up of
opportunistic infection.
• Most prisoners are stressed hence their
health deteriorates faster and this is
even worse for the PLHIVs.
• IDU are always looked down upon
because of their physical appearance.

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Cont….
• After Peer Education training the
need to access Reproductive Health
Services was realized
• As a result of stigma inmates felt
withdrawn from the community hence
felt the need to have certificates
which will tell people that they are a
changed individuals.

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Cont….
•For those inmates suspected to be
HIV positive they would be verbally,
psychologically and physically
assaulted.
•There is inadequate information on
HIV & AIDs (using the same bucket)
•Stigma would be high if the senior
officers don’t have information.

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What is the role of Government and
key players in mitigating the above
situation?
Who could be the most suitable target
group?

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• Open Door policy.
• Formulation of HIV & AIDS policy for
the GK prison staff.
• Provide prevention, care and support
interventions that are appropriate and
sustainable.

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What has been done so far ?
• Involvement of the prison authority at
the National level in the intervention
cycle . Mutual understanding was
reached hence:-
- Conducted the needs assessment
(PUA)
- MOU
2. Mobile counselors to provide
Psychosocial Support in IDP camps

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Cont….
3. Building capacity of prison
community (100 members) through
trainings such as;
- Professional counseling
- Peer Education
- Attitude
- First Aid
- Home Based Care
- Community prevention, Treatment,
Care and Support package.

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Cont….
4. Provision of Mobile VCT services
5. Provision of Nutritional supplements
( Ujimix, Moducare)
6. Promotion of proper personal hygiene
through provision of Bar soaps, Toilet
papers, ladies, sanitary pads.
7. Linking of the ex inmates with their
families through tracing services.

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Cont…
8. Provision of HBC services
9. Weekly Peer Education sessions
10.Motivation of the peer Educators
11.Support Counselling
12.Monthly support counsellors
supervision meetings

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Cont…
13.Continuous monitoring – peer
educators report to the welfare and
copied to the Red Cross.
14.Parliamentary session
15.Video session analysis
16.Integrated Outreaches

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Immediate Achievements – IDP
Camps
• The IDPs felt cared for and
appreciated that there is someone out
there interested in their well being
• HIV/AIDS forums/talks have been
ongoing in the camps
• Empowered the PLWHAS to form
support groups

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Cont…
• Identified focal persons to represent
those willing to continue with the
intervention
• Some of the PLWHAS have accepted
their status and are willing to disclose
and even encourage others to open up.
• Client Support Centre has been
established to ensure the follow up of
identified needs of PLWHAS

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LESSON LEARNT
 Inmates PLHIVs are good
ambassadors of change hence they
ought to be capacity build on all
issues related to HIV such as TB,
Drug adherence among others.
 Introduction of HBC desks is a more
effective way of linking the PLHIVs
with other support services in the
community once they are
discharged.

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Cont…
 In prison where HIV and AIDS
programme has been introduced:-
1. There is a reduction in incidence rate
2. Increase in knowledge of HIV & AIDS
3. Level of Stigma has reduced.
4. Free discussions on issues pertaining to
sex and sexuality
5. Bridged a gap between warder and
inmates.
6. Pronounced service seeking behaviour
7. Enhanced positive living amongst the
prison community

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Cont…
• Engaging the government to take a
leading role in prevention , care and
support interventions in the prisons
could ensure sustainability.
• Ex inmates who were trained as peer
educators are easily accepted by the
community once integrated into the
out of school peer education
programme.

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Cont.
• Upholding the inmates’ fundamental
right to access RH services can
contribute to the quality of life.
• The welfare of the affected and
infected prison community is
everyone's responsibilty.

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Challenges
• Use of Condom in male prisons
• Community attitude
• Staff Transfer

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Parting Shot
It all starts with you!

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Ahsante Sana