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Project: Prisons without risk – a pilot initiative for preventing the spread of blood-transmitted and sexually transmitted infections in three selected Bulgarian prisons 

Expected Output 4: “Improved competencies of inmates and prison staff”

NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014
PROGRAMME BG15 „CORRECTIONAL SERVICES,
INCLUDING NON-CUSTODIAL MEASURES”
SMALL GRANT SCHEME

Places of implementation: Prisons in Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Sliven

The project's main goal is to improve the health status of prisoners through active re-socializing activities which include service and information provision in order to increase the health culture and improve the health status of vulnerable communities in prisons. The main focus of activities is on blood transmitted infections, mainly HIV, HBV and HCV. The project will be implemented for the period of 14 months (March 2015–April 2016).
High risk contacts and especially ones related to blood-transmitted infections are the main prerequisite for the implementing of this project. BFPA has an extensive experience in provision of information and in voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV, HBV and HCV in all penitentiary institutions in the country. This experience, along with the partnership with General Directorate “Execution of Sentences” (GDES) at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), are among the most important factors for the implementation of the initiative. An important part of the implementation is also the support of prison personnel.
The activities of the project are focused at two target groups – prisoners and personnel. These include organizing separate trainings for the two groups, focused on health and rights of the patient/client. The plan includes also preparing analyses and recommendations for work in order to be more efficient in maintaining a better health status among inmates and also implementing a national informational campaign. An important element of the project is the provision of HIV, HBV and HCV testing and counseling.

The project creates a model for work to be replicated in other penitentiaries in the country and will meet the needs for prevention of prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis in a period when GFATM is withdrawing from the country and there is an unpet need in VCT and other related services.

The overall objective is to improve the state of health of persons sentenced to imprisonment and remained in custody by means of active re-socialization work connected with the provision of services and information for upgrading the health culture of the vulnerable groups in prisons.

The project's specific objectives:
1. Raising the staff competences in the sphere of the prevention and prophylaxis of sexually transmitted and blood- transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, which are typical for an isolated communities.
2. Raising the heath culture and sensitivity of prisoners and prison staff to matters relating to sexually transmitted and blood- transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS in rder not to allow secondary contamination in the penitentiary setting. Introduction of key persons from the prison community and staff, and them to become promoters of the healthy lifestyle idea. The establishment and maintenance of channels for the dissemination of health information to ensure improvement of the tolerance setting and decreasing the stigma attached to people with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted and blood- transmitted diseases.
3. Raising the legal culture of the convicted persons, pretrial detainees and the staff in the three prison establishments selected with a view to benefit from their legal rights with focus on the access to health care.

Project partners
BFPA team, Ministry of Justice and it’s sub-division GDES, the team of “Hope against AIDS” foundation, two key experts – the virologist Prof. Radka Argirova and the legal expert Ivana Murdjeva.

The project – 93-00-141/12.03.2015 is funded by small grants scheme of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014