Inmates in two Kharkiv colonies to be tested for HIV

Tests for HIV infection will be carried out in two Kharkiv correctional colonies. In addition, a thematic film will be shown to the inmates, and a concert will be held, reports the ‘15 Minutes’ newspaper.

Thus, criminals are being taught a loyal attitude towards HIV-infected individuals. The idea belongs to the ‘Network of People Living with HIV (PLWH)’ organisation.

On 15 December, members of the PLWH began their first campaign for AIDS prevention among inmates. As reported by the Network’s press service, nothing of this kind had previously been carried out in the correctional colonies of the region: as part of the campaign, inmates will undergo an HIV test, relevant examinations, and will watch the thematic film ‘Test’, followed by a concert from the organisers. Inmates of the Kharkiv Correctional Colony No. 43 and the Temnivska Colony No. 100 in the village of Vasyshcheve will receive rapid HIV diagnostic tests.

It is known that there are about 200 HIV-infected inmates in the correctional institutions of the Kharkiv region, whereas about 3,000 people are registered in the region as a whole. The PLWH Network believes that these figures are actually much higher; it is simply that not everyone has taken an HIV test or registered with the Regional Centre for AIDS Prevention and Control.
Let us recall that yesterday, the AntiAIDS Foundation presented a reconstructed maternity ward for HIV-positive mothers, which should help reduce the number of cases of mother-to-child transmission. Olena Franchuk, head of the foundation, and Irena Kilchytska, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, were present at the opening.