Kampala — PRISONERS and staff of Luzira and Gulu prisons will be counselled and tested for HIV over the next one year, courtesy of the AIDS Information Centre (AIC).

According to an agreement signed on Tuesday, the staff and inmates will be provided with TB prophylaxis, a preventive treatment, to reduce the spread of the disease.

"HIV opportunistic infections, like TB are the leading cause of death among inmates and staff. Over 60% of TB patients are also HIV-positive," said Denson Nyabana, the assistant commissioner for health services in the Prisons Service.

The partnership will also enable staff and prisoners to get treatment.

In 1993, the Prisons Service established the prisons AIDS control programme to fight HIV.

However, limited funding and inadequate staffing have led to limited access to voluntary counselling, testing and treatment.

Raymond Byaruhanga, AIC executive director, said post-test clubs would be formed for those who have tested positive or not. The group also plans to spend about sh20m on AIDS and TB interventions in prisons.