CEBU CITY – At least 136 inmates at the Cebu City jail were found positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis.
In the record City Jail Warden Arnel Peralta submitted to the city, 88 out of 136 inmates who are HIV-positive are undergoing medication and 45 are for follow-up assessment. Three others reportedly refused to undergo medication.
At least 32 inmates were also found to have tuberculosis, 18 of them have been categorized under pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) 1, five are under PTB 2, eight are under multi-drug resistance, and one is extremely drug resistant.
Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the City Council committee on peace and order, said details on the situation is still being collated but the city learned of the numbers from the report of the health status and conditions of inmates at the Male Dormitory who are undergoing treatment as of March 30.
Tumulak said the inmates are not isolated because Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998 prohibits discrimination, in all its forms and subtleties, against individuals with HIV/AIDS or persons perceived or suspected of having HIV/AIDS.
Expressing alarm over report, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will immediately recommend putting up a medical team and an ambulance at the city jail. (MARS W. MOSQUEDA, JR.)
