Commissioner of correctional services in Swaziland gets tested for HIV
5 March 2010- Following the presentation of advocacy materials by UNODC to the Swazi correctional services, Commissioner Isaiah Ntshangase said he would like to take a public HIV test. UNODC collaborated with the Correctional Services' committee dealing with HIV and asked Population Services International to do the test since it provides health testing and counselling services. The event, which took place on 5 March 2010, was combined with a regular "road march", in other words a physical fitness exercise for staff, between Nokwane to Mawelawela Women's Correctional Institution, a stretch of approximately 15 km. UNODC Project Coordinator Patrick Dlamini joined the march.
After taking the test, Commissioner Ntshangase encouraged all prison staff to find out what their HIV status was and condemned the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV are often subjected to. He called on prison staff to support one another and build a strong team. |