Haso and Seychelles Prison Service join forces on HIV/AIDS awareness |17 February 2020

Handshake between Mr Freminot and Mr St Ange following the signing (Photo source: SPS)

Efforts to educate, counsel and guide prison inmates in the matter of HIV/Aids and hepatitis have been re-invigorated.

This follows the signing of a formal partnership agreement between the Seychelles Prison Service (SPS) and the HIV/Aids Support Organisation (Haso).

The signing ceremony took place on Valentine’s Day, February 14, at the prison headquarters at Montagne Posée.

“February 14 is the date for showing love and to reconfirm someone’s love for another. Today as partners with Haso and our inmates, we are again clearly demonstrating our resolve to address HIV/Aids within the prison environment and to ensure that those inmates who are affected are on a clear path to treatment without fear of stigmatisation,” said Superintendent of Prisons, Raymond St Ange.

“Haso has been a partner with the prisons before and today with this new initiative being initiated we will be bringing back our expertise and experience for the benefit of the inmates and the prison service at large,” said Justin Freminot, chairman of Haso.

Present to observe the signing were inmates from the prison choir, singing ‘Lean on me’, SPS staff, representatives from the faith-based organisations who are engaging with the prison service’s religious and spiritual programme, and the new UNODC country representative, Carina Bruwer.

Through continued education and counselling and with renewed emphasis, inmates will be encouraged to fully participate in the antiretroviral therapy (ART), a service which the Health Care Agency provides.

Understanding that a number of inmates were not seeking treatment for one reason or another, the prison authority with the support of Haso is seeking to improve understanding by inmates.

Press release from the Seychelles Prison Service