173 HIV-positive inmates across Fiji prisons

Frontline corrections officers in Fiji are working daily with inmates who may be HIV-positive — without knowing who they are.

Acting Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) Auta Moceisuva confirmed yesterday that HIV-positive prisoners are housed alongside the general prison population across the country.

Mr Moceisuva said international human rights laws prohibit the segregation of HIV-positive inmates.

"We are not allowed to discriminate prisoners because of international human rights laws," Mr Moceisuva said.

"They are kept together, but we treat everyone equal."

Only the officer-in-charge at each correctional facility holds the information on which inmates are HIV-positive. Frontline officers who interact with prisoners daily are not told.

"Sometimes our officers are apprehensive because of the disease," Mr Moceisuva acknowledged.

There are currently 173 HIV-positive inmates among a total prison population of 2,202 across 15 correctional facilities nationwide, mostly in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa.

Testing for HIV is voluntary. Prisoners cannot be forced to take the test, meaning the actual number of cases may be higher.

Mr Moceisuva said the FCS was working with the Ministry of Health, United Nations agencies and non-government organisations to manage the situation.

A full-time doctor and 15 nurses are stationed across correctional facilities.

He said the rise in HIV cases was closely linked to drug use in prisons, particularly the sharing of needles.

A dedicated drug rehabilitation centre planned for Naboro was key to addressing the issue at its source.

"HIV comes together with the drugs," he said.