Infected inmates find hope inside prison

"Would you like to join the art troupe?" an officer asked. He was referring to the "red ribbon art troupe", which the prison established to help patients with rehabilitation.

The invitation gave Xiao a sense of hope, and he began receiving medical treatment.

On the eve of World AIDS Day last year, Xiao stepped on stage and performed with more than a dozen inmates a dance he choreographed. He called the dance Rebirth, in recognition of his changed life in prison.

Guo said: "I was moved to tears when I saw their dance. They paid the price by losing their freedom. We didn't give up on them, and they didn't give up on themselves."

Wang Guochun, warden of the prison, said: "Prisoners are also members of society. They come from society and some will return to it sooner or later. They should have the same rights to life and health as everybody else."

Prisons are legally required to set up medical institutions to ensure the sanitary needs and health of prisoners.

At present, 133 HIV-infected prisoners like Xiao are serving their sentences in Feihe Prison. More than 500 prisoners with HIV have been incarcerated in the prison since 2004, with many leaving in good health.

"We have cooperated with several hospitals in the province to conduct telemedicine so that the patients can get timely treatment," Wang said.

Xiao, who is now the leader of the dance troupe, said more inmates were joining. "The number of members has risen from 12 to 29, and we have given over 10 performances so far," he said. He said they worked on a song for World AIDS Day, which fell on Sunday, called Metamorphosis.

Xinhua