85 HIV cases registered in one month in 2 jails of Assam

Official says most prisoners contracted virus before being arrested

Authorities in two jails in central Assam’s Nagaon district have detected 85 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive cases in almost a month.

Cases were reported from both the Central Jail and the Special Jail in Nagaon, the district headquarters, about 125 km east of Guwahati.

According to Atul Pator, District Joint Director of Health Services, most of the inmates had contracted the virus before being jailed. He said, ‘The disease was detected in him a few days ago.

intravenous drug users
Officials said the patients, mostly intravenous drug users, were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

Jailor Prabin Hazarika said, “Forty cases have been detected in the Central Jail, ruling out the possibility of infecting others.” He also dismissed allegations that the infected prisoners were getting access to drugs.

Officials of the special prison said they have detected 45 HIV-positive cases, claiming that the family members of the patients are being updated about their health status.

Nagaon SP Anand Mishra said drugs and illicit sex were behind the high rate of infection.

Pharmacist arrested
“Prison authorities should be vigilant about drug access of prisoners. The police recently arrested a pharmacist for supplying drugs to prisoners.

The BJP government of Assam led by Himanta Biswa Sarma has waged a war against drugs five months back. Since then, medicines worth over ₹200 crore have been seized and several smugglers, peddlers and drug addicts arrested.

85 HIV cases registered in one month in 2 jails of Assam

Also Read:- Mission Basundhara Portal – Assam Land Records Online Update Portal : Report 9 Oct 2021