To mark World AIDS Day 2011, we are sharing a case study about how we assisted a female detainee who was affected with HIV. AdvocAid aims to provide medical and welfare assistance to girls, women and their children in detention. We also conduct legal and reproductive rights work shops with sex workers as part of our preventative educational initiatives.

Hadja and Aminatta

Hadja and Aminatta were market traders. They were walking past the police station when they stopped and spoke to someone they knew who had been arrested by the police. The police also arrested them for conspiracy to commit armed robbery. They were detained in October 2009.

AdvocAid instructed a lawyer for them in April 2010 following a needs assessment to Makeni. AdvocAid referred Hadja for HIV/ AIDS testing due to concerns about her health and she was diagnosed HIV positive.  Hadja was also 7 months pregnant. Although AdvocAid and referred maternal health charities did all they could to assist Hadja, she sadly died a week after giving birth. AdvocAid were at least able to ensure she had a dignified burial and have assisted her child to be fostered and receive good medical treatment. The baby is thankfully healthy.

Aminatta was released in July 2010 after her case was discharged. AdvocAid have assisted her with post prison support to set up a small business selling coconut cakes. She passed her Stage 1 literacy as part of AdvocAid’s prison literacy classes.