HIV & AIDS Seminar in Matara Prison

14 March 2009

In order to create a healthy society and build good social values in every part of Sri Lanka, the Project Positive team of Alliance Development Trust (ADT), ADT Galle, & the Pastor’s Fellowship Galle, organized an awareness programme on HIV & AIDS for the inmates at the Matara prison. The Matara prison welfare community also assisted to make the programme a success.

These prisoners are categorized as vulnerable persons as they tend to engage in high risk activities (using drugs, involved in homo sexual activities etc.) which could lead to a high incidence of contacting this disease.

710 inmates participated at this awareness program held on the 14th of March 2009 within the Prison premises. The seminar was separately conducted for the male & female inmates.  

The topics that were covered at the seminar were -

1. Introduction to HIV & AIDS and how it spreads
2. Myths and realities of the disease
3. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
4. Avoiding infection
5. Church’s responsibility towards HIV & AIDS victims
6. Psychosocial support for the HIV & AIDS patient

At the end of the seminar booklets and leaflets containing information on HIV & AIDS were distributed amongst the participants. The commissioner of the Matara Prison decided to hold an awareness seminar in the future for the prison staff as well. He also requested ADT to conduct HIV & AIDS awareness programmes for the inmates every quarter.
 “I was working as a tour guide and I lead a very immoral lifestyle. Now I know the dangers and the consequences of leading such a lifestyle. This seminar helped me a lot to understand my wrong behavior and I’ll make every effort to overcome this situation” stated one of the inmates at the end of the seminar.

This programme created a great impact on the participants. It was also the first time these prison inmates were exposed to a HIV & AIDS awareness programme. As the programme concluded the commissioner who was also present at the programme thanked ADT for the useful information & awareness created amongst the Matara prison inmates through this programme.