Harare — The Zimbabwe Prison Services (ZPS) has embarked on HIV campaign programmes to educate prisoners and prison officers.

Senior prison nursing officer Mr Sakile Mazise said this on Tuesday.

Mr Mazise was speaking to The Herald at the ZPS stand at the Harare Agricultural Show.

He said the prison services set up the programme to enlighten ZPS staff members as well as inmates on issues related to the deadly disease.

"We educate inmates as well as staff members on HIV and provide counselling to them, especially those who are HIV positive," said Mr Mazise.

The ZPS are working in collaboration with Population Services International (PSI), a non-governmental organisation which educates society on HIV/Aids-related issues.

Under the programme, inmates and prison officers are also trained to become peer educators so as to counsel their colleagues. Mr Mazise said the programme has proved beneficial to both prisoners and officers.

"The programme is helping many ZPS members. The response from prisoners and officers is overwhelming as they are now willing to come for voluntary counselling and testing," he said.

Every prison has a hospital with professional doctors and nurses to provide health services. Prison hospitals also provide life-prolonging anti-retroviral drugs to HIV-positive members and inmates.

Mr Mazise said the challenge for ZPS was to develop a vibrant health system comparable to any other health institution in the country and provide medical cover to the nation and achieve health for inmates.