Bonzo, who is HIV-positive, was arrested in January this year after failing to pay restitution. She was forced to change her daily routine of taking medication when she got to Chikurubi as tablets were not allowed in the cells.
“I got to Chikurubi at 6pm in the evening and I was forced to break my normal cycle of taking medication. I had to take my second dose of ARVs at 6pm instead of 8pm.
“The prison officers were ignorant. I believe they should be educated on HIV/AIDS issues. I told them that it was not safe for me to break my cycle because my body was used to the same routine for the past 12 years,” she said.
She added that her cycle of taking ARVs was further affected as the prison had a policy of giving inmates medication at four o’clock every day.
“Worse still, our last meal was at three o’clock and I always had an empty stomach as the meals were not filling. As people living with HIV, we rely on food to stay strong because these tablets are powerful. Some of our families were willing to send us supplements and special food boxes from home. But the packages took a long time to be approved by the institution,” she said.
“Everyone knew about my status when they saw me being given pills from the ARV container. Ever since that day, my cellmate’s attitude changed. Just like other inmates, she did not want to share anything with me,” she said.
Bonzo explained that accessing treatment at Parirenyatwa Hospital was a huge challenge for a female prisoner. After experiencing the hardship and trauma faced by HIV-positive women in prison, Bonzo decided to start a support group.
Following her release, Bonzo has been advocating for better treatment and free access to ARVs and CD4 count machines for HIV positive inmates throughout the country.
Post published in: News