The development of HIV/AIDS interventions in Romanian prisons

The Romanian Prison Service Department, as part of the Ministry of Justice, comprises 42 prison institutions, including 34 prisons, six prison hospitals and three centres for young offenders. The prison population was 46,789 in June 2003 (General Directorate of Penitentiaries, Internet Site, www.anp.ro). Harm reduction is an important area for the Romanian Prison Service Department to consider, as statistics from the Ministry of Health and Family show that 9928 HIV and AIDS cases were recorded in the community, with most of them being teenagers (31 December 2002). In addition, the incidence of infectious diseases generally in the prison system is high. A range of visits to other countries and discussions with staff have been undertaken to find out what models of harm reduction best fit the Romanian situation (Head of Health Care, Prison Service Department 2004). The Romanian HIV/AIDS National Strategy (2000/2003) prioritizes youth, vulnerable and disabled groups, medical assistance and support for HIV/AIDS‐infected people and epidemiological surveillance. The strategy also includes the development of harm reduction and prevention. The strategy includes cooperation with non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) dealing with needle‐exchange and information programs and condom distribution.