Wife seeks release of Aids patient in prison

Dubai: The wife of an Aids patient serving a four-year jail term for a drug-related offence is seeking his release on humanitarian grounds.

Sabhia S., 27, said her husband, H.S., 28, tested positive for HIV in 2006. His skin is decaying due to psoriasis and hepatitis C, causing him to constantly moan at night that keeps his fellow inmates awake.

The truth about H.S.' condition has been hidden from family and friends, Sabhia said, adding that her daughters, ages four and seven, and relatives do not know her husband is still in prison with such dreaded afflictions.

Sabhia, who has been living separately from her husband since 2006 after learning he was HIV positive, says he does not need jail now. "His diseases are punishment enough. At this advanced stage of the diseases, he should be sent to hospital or home to spend his last days with his family."

Bad to worse

Since H.S. was jailed in April, 2008, for a drug-related offence, his condition worsened and he has been in and out of hospital. He spent 40 days at Rashid Hospital, including the whole of Ramadan, before being released after Eid on September 24.

"We expected him to die," said Sabhia.

Cellmates at the HIV ward at the Dubai Central Jail at Al Aweer told XPRESS that H.S. is unable to sleep at night as his pain makes him moan constantly, keeping others awake.

E.S., a cellmate, said that they could smell the skin peeling off his body.

He said that the disease has severely damaged H.S.' skin and turned most of it red, with scaly patches falling off.

Medical reports from Rashid and Dubai hospitals show H.S. is suffering from chronic psoriasis, in addition to Aids and hepatitis C. Bloody patches on the face, back, abdomen and limbs cover 95 per cent of his body.

No giving up

Sabhia refuses to give up on her husband now. He tells her that it's only her comforting words and support that keep him going.

The last time he was sent to hospital his condition worsened and he was severely depressed and often thinks of ending his life.

A plea was submitted to the prison management to send him home to his family to die, Sabhia said, adding that a reply came saying that a health committee is studying his condition and will issue a decision soon.