Botswana to pay for all inmates’ HIV drugs
Published on Saturday, 23 August 2014 17:10
Sechele said the government’s decision to exclude Tapela and Piye as well as other inmates from ARV was “irrational and invalid”. The judge also ruled that the government should pay for the legal fee for the two inmates. The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) had supported the challenge against government policy, saying it violated the prisoners’ constitutional right to equality, dignity and non-discrimination. The High Court agreed, rejecting the government’s claim that it did not have adequate funds to provide non-citizen detainees with the treatment.
BONELA director Cindy Kelemi welcomed the ruling, calling it a victory for human rights. “The court affirmed that providing ARV treatment to all prisoners who need it is critical to effectively addressing HIV,” she said.
Download the judgement (Source: Morolong Legal Practice)
Source: Al Jazeera