On prisons for HIV/AIDS carriers

On prisons for HIV/AIDS carriers

I was shocked to read the letter by Andi Abdussalam in The
Jakarta Post on April 11 concerning the increasing number of
inmates testing positive for HIV/AIDS in Salemba Penitentiary. I
was even more amazed to read his suggestion of effectively
establishing an apartheid system to create separate prisons for
HIV positive and negative prisoners.

Surely, in the 21st century, we want to move away from a
community that outcasts HIV/AIDS carriers and learn to be more
supportive, helping them to continue to live their lives as best
they can, whether behind bars or in society? What Andi Abdussalam
suggests is preposterous and perhaps he needs to educate himself
correctly on how the virus is actually spread.

The implementation of a successful government health education
program would be a more humane and practical solution than
damning the infected to an isolation ward. We no longer live in
the Dark Ages.

CATHY JONES

Jakarta