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"1,959
convicts are HIV positive"
The
Star (www.thestar.com.my)
(22/09/05)
MALACCA: About 5% of prisoners in the country are HIV positive, said Deputy
Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar.
He said 1,959 of the 39,000 prisoners had HIV, adding that prisoners with
AIDS made up more than half the total deaths in custody.
Between January and August this year, 133 of the 214 prisoners who died in
prison were AIDS patients. Last year, 187 of 300 prisoners also died from
the same disease.
Noh added that 18,998 prisoners had been involved in drugs prior to
detention.
He was speaking to reporters yesterday after launching the drug and crime
prevention programme held in conjunction with Asean Prisons Infocraft
Exhibition at the Malacca International Trade Centre.
Noh urged the Government to provide critical allowance for prison officers
who had to handle HIV-positive inmates.
“No one likes to handle HIV-infected prisoners and the officers have to
carry out their task based on rotation,” Noh said, adding that HIV prisoners
were separated from other inmates.
Noh also said 22 prison officers had been infected with tuberculosis.
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