Bhubaneswar: State government's State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) launched HIV and TB intervention in prisons and other correctional homes in the state.

Launching the scheme, Naco additional secretary and director general Sanjeeva Kumar said: "People living in prisons and other closed settings are at an increased risk of HIV infection because they lack access to preventive and care services, making these places a high-risk environment for HIV transmission."

Analysis of data from Indian prisons indicate that in across 1401 prisons, there are 4,20,000 inmates at any given point of time, and more than 12,00,000 under trials are released every year, which includes more than 50,000 from the state.

"Almost all prisoners will return to their communities, many within a few months to a year. Therefore, health in prisons and other closed setting is closely connected to the health of the wider society, especially when it comes to communicable disease," an official said.

Besides addressing the HIV/AIDS in prisons, Naco is also expanding the services to women living in other closed settings such as Swadhar, Ujjawala and state-run homes in the country.

Secretary, health and family welfare P.K. Meherda said: "All steps would be taken to provide medical treatment to the affected people."