Can I Get HIV Plus in Prison?

Dear Editor,

I am an inmate at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in New York, where I am a peer educator for the PACE Program, Prisoners for AIDS Counseling and Education. We educate the population about HIV and AIDS and encourage knowing your status and more.

First, congrats to the entire team for the March/April 2014 issue. It is excellent. The cover story on Carlton Wilborn was very well done and I had so many “I did not know that” moments while reading it.

Secondly, you wrote about the HIV Plus Treatment Guide Mobile App, which sounds like a wonderful tool. We in prison cannot access mobile phone apps because of security concerns. But I was hoping and praying that you could send me a hard copy so I too can have information on “every single medication used to treat HIV or AIDS." I teach a treatment class and I know I am behind on treatment information. Sadly, the only way to stay on top of new info on HIV is through magazines like HIV Plus.

Lastly, “Pushing Past the Fear” by Brenden Shucart was such a nice story and a true eye-opener. After reading it I just lay back on my bed and my eyes teared up just a little. It really gives one who’s positive a reflection moment. Thank you, Brenden. And, on behalf of all of us behind the wall, I thank you and your team for doing such a fine job.

Charles Moore

Woodbourne, N.Y.

EDITOR'S reply:Charles, thanks for doing the great job you do! At HIV Plus we have a strong commitment to our brothers and sisters behind bars, where information about HIV testing and treatment is minimal and access to condoms virtually unheard of. For that reason, we send FREE bulk copies of our magazines to any inmate who asks. Got 10 guys who need the magazine at Woodbourne? Tell us and we’ll send them out (the same goes for any prison, doctor's office, community center, testing facility, or service organization). If you’re online, you can email Jeff.Lettiere@heremedia.com; if not, you can write to him (or me) at HIV Plus Subscriptions, PO Box 241579 Los Angeles, CA 90024 and let us know how many copies you can take.