An international HIV and human rights consultant, Christian Tshimbalanga has raised alarm over the deplorable state of prisons across several West African countries, stressing the urgent need for rights-based healthcare, particularly for inmates living with HIV.
Mwata made this known on Tuesday in Lagos during a training session for media and civil society organisations. The session was organised under the Breaking Down Barriers initiative by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
He condemned the widespread neglect of prisoners’ health, noting that it poses a significant public health risk beyond prison walls.
“When someone is imprisoned, the only right they lose is the freedom of movement,” Mwata said. “But in many prisons, inmates are denied access to basic health services, including life-saving antiretroviral treatment. This is not only inhumane but also dangerous to public health.”
Mwata described the denial of healthcare in prisons as a clear violation of both national constitutions and international human rights treaties ratified by many African states.
He stressed that conditions in some prisons are so dire that detaining an individual with HIV can amount to a death sentence, due to the absence of treatment, poor hygiene, and overcrowding. These factors, he said, significantly increase the risk of disease transmission among inmates.
Mwata also highlighted the compounded stigma faced by women living with HIV. “Women suffer double condemnation—first from societal stigma due to their gender, and then from discrimination linked to their health status. We must prioritise gender-sensitive approaches in our responses,” he said.
He called for urgent legal reforms to eliminate unconstitutional laws that criminalise vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals, and sex workers.
Mwata urged civil society organisations and journalists to actively document rights violations and take legal action through constitutional courts to challenge discriminatory laws.
He further stressed the need for continuous training of law enforcement personnel, especially prison officials, on legal principles and human rights standards.
“Many officers are unaware of the hierarchy of laws and continue to enforce statutes that may already have been declared unconstitutional,” he said. “This ignorance fuels ongoing human rights violations within the justice system.”
Mwata commended the Thomson Reuters Foundation for its support of programmes that promote legal literacy, access to justice, and gender-sensitive approaches in HIV programming.
He also called for stronger partnerships between governments and civil society organisations to ensure that no one—especially prisoners and other marginalised groups—is left behind.
