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Prison warders dying despite AIDS awareness

    JOHANNESBURG

    The number of HIV/AIDS deaths among prison warders in the Kenyan port town of Homa Bay is alarming, according to prison commanding officer Rashid Powon.

    Since the beginning of the year AIDS-related illnesses have claimed the lives of six warders, while many others were affected by ailments suspected to be AIDS-related.

    "It is even more worrying that the victims are highly educated and trained young officers, in whom the government has invested heavily," Powon was quoted by a local newspaper, The Nation, as saying.

    Research showed that although HIV/AIDS awareness in the area was above 90 percent, deaths among prison officers continued to rise.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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