Red Cross commends prison health systems

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has commended the government for safeguarding the lives of inmates through its prisons health system.Dr. Sergio Leon, the ICRC medical delegate, Wednesday said measures taken should be emulated in the region.“We have been closely following each step taken to improve lives of prisoners and what has been achieved so far is great,” Leon said, shortly after the second national prison health seminar that attracted representatives from 14 prisons.Among others, participants discussed measures taken to fight HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, mental health and feeding or nutrition in prison.“ICRC shifted from providing prison health care and partnered with the Ministry of Internal Security and Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) to focus on strengthening human resources and management capacity,” said Jaky L. Villettaz, Head of the ICRC delegation.The Commissioner General of RCS, Major General Paul Rwarakabije, said since the introduction of the health system in 2007, mortality rates have significantly reduced. “Currently, each prison has a health centre in which inmates get access to all primary health care services including laboratory and pharmacy services as well as treatment for HIV/Aids,” he said.Dr. Innocent Gahima, the Health Coordinator in Prisons, noted that health centres have been able to serve their purpose due to the capable medical teams.“By December last year, we had 93 medical staff, including laboratory technicians, nurses, data managers, nutritionists and social workers,” he said. “The staff undergo various trainings at district hospitals as part of the capacity building programme organised by the Ministry of Health”.

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Red Cross commends prison health systems