In many countries, including Canada, HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection is significantly more prevalent among people in prison than among the population as a whole. In part, this is because people from communities that are already disproportionately affected by HIV \u2014 including people who use drugs \u2014 also face disproportionate rates of incarceration. But it\u2019s also because people in prison often don\u2019t have access to the same health services available to people outside prison \u2014 a violation of human rights.<\/p>\n
Depending on the setting, the lack of opioid substitution therapy (e.g. methadone), condom distribution, sterile injection equipment and other harm reduction measures are all factors driving the HIV epidemic in prisons. Infections acquired in prison ultimately result in greater public health costs. And, since most prisoners are eventually released back into the community, harm to the health of those in prison also harms public health more broadly.<\/p>\n
We work with<\/b> a range of partners, in Canada and internationally, to improve access in prisons to:<\/p>\n\n