Tanzania: Legislators Ask State to Free HIV/Aids Infected Inmates
Zanzibar — SOME members of the Zanzibar House
of Representatives have asked the government to set free prisoners
living with HIV/AIDS, arguing that keeping them in prisons is
stigmatizing them.
Mr Abdallah Juma Abdallah (CUF - Chonga) said during questions and answers session of the House that keeping prisoners infected with the disease was violation of their rights, while Mr Assa Othman (CUF-Wete), said that the HIV/AIDS prisoners should be kept in isolation to avoid disturbance.
Responding to the questions, the Minister of State (State House) Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini, said that keeping prisoners with HIV/AIDS was neither stigmatising nor violating their rights."We have 12 prisoners living with HIV/AIDS and we are taking care of them. Isolating them will be stigma. Every year the president pardons prisoners including the sick," Dr Mwadini said.
The minister said that prisoners' rights have been observed by making sure that all prisoners get medical care and meals. "We are planning to increase budget for medicines from 12m/- to 20m/-", he explained.He said that some patients were walking to hospitals for treatment as physical exercise instead of staying idle.
Mr Abdallah Juma Abdallah (CUF - Chonga) said during questions and answers session of the House that keeping prisoners infected with the disease was violation of their rights, while Mr Assa Othman (CUF-Wete), said that the HIV/AIDS prisoners should be kept in isolation to avoid disturbance.
Responding to the questions, the Minister of State (State House) Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini, said that keeping prisoners with HIV/AIDS was neither stigmatising nor violating their rights."We have 12 prisoners living with HIV/AIDS and we are taking care of them. Isolating them will be stigma. Every year the president pardons prisoners including the sick," Dr Mwadini said.
The minister said that prisoners' rights have been observed by making sure that all prisoners get medical care and meals. "We are planning to increase budget for medicines from 12m/- to 20m/-", he explained.He said that some patients were walking to hospitals for treatment as physical exercise instead of staying idle.
