In a routine health check-up at Haridwar District Jail, 15 inmates were found to be HIV positive, causing concern among prisoners and jail staff. The affected inmates have been moved to a separate barrack to prevent the spread of the virus. Authorities are taking necessary precautions to manage the situation and ensure the safety of all individuals in the facility. The unexpected medical emergency has created a stir in the jail administration. This is not the first instance of HIV positive cases in jail. The most recent was that of Mau District Jail, where 13 inmates were found to be HIV-positive. On 10 March, a shocking revelation emerged from the jail in Uttar Pradesh, as 13 inmates tested positive for HIV, triggering alarm among prison authorities and the health department. Of the infected inmates, 10 are from Ballia, while three are from Mau.
Due to ongoing construction at Ballia Jail, its inmates are currently housed in Mau Jail. This unsettling discovery has raised serious concerns about health security measures in prisons. Jail Superintendent Anand Shukla stated that routine health check-ups are conducted for all male and female inmates. Those displaying symptoms or suspected of infections undergo further testing at the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre in the district hospital. Once confirmed, they receive the necessary treatment and medication. Shukla further revealed that some of the infected inmates had gotten tattoos at the famous Dadri Mela in Ballia, where unsterilised needles might have been used, leading to transmission. Additionally, some inmates were drug addicts who injected substances using shared needles, increasing their risk of contracting HIV. At present, all infected inmates are under strict medical supervision and are receiving ART treatment within the prison premises. HIV/AIDS, a life-threatening disease with no definitive cure, continues to pose a major public health challenge.