QUETTA: Twenty-nine prisoners in different jails of Balochistan have tested positive for HIV, said a report on Thursday.

The Balochistan AIDS Control Programme screened 2,300 inmates at 11 jails in the province on the request of the home department.

The report submitted by the AIDS Control Programme said that 29 out of the 2,300 prisoners were found to be HIV positive.

Of the 29 people, 24 prisoners are in Central Jail of Gadani, four in District Jail Quetta and one is in District Jail of Loralai.

AIDS Control Programme spokesperson Dr Noor said that most of the 29 prisoners were drug addicts who used the same syringe multiple times.

He said the prisoners were being treated for the disease, adding that other prisoners would also undergo the test.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2019