The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has reaffirmed the Service's commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in Ghana's correctional facilities.
He noted that improving prison health is essential to protecting public health and preventing the spread of communicable diseases.
Speaking at the launch of the Ashanti Regional Prisons Medicines and Equipment Bank at the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana Prisons Service in Kumasi, Dr. Akoriyea said the health of inmates should remain a national priority because it has direct implications for disease control, public health security and national development.
He commended the Ghana Prisons Service for establishing the Medicines and Equipment Bank, and described the initiative as one that would improve access to essential medicines, medical equipment and quality healthcare for inmates and prison officers.
Dr. Akoriyea said the partnership between the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Prisons Service, under a Memorandum of Understanding, has produced positive outcomes in the prevention and management of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in correctional facilities.
He said the collaboration has also strengthened disease surveillance, health information management, violence screening, post-exposure prophylaxis services, capacity building for prison health personnel and joint supportive supervision.
Dr. Akoriyea said the "Onuador" Specialist Mobile Clinics expanded access to specialist healthcare for inmates by providing eye, ear, nose and throat, dental and general medical services in prisons across the country.
He added that the close working relationship between the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Prisons Service also supported Ghana's preparedness and response efforts during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Akoriyea assured the Ghana Prisons Service that the Ghana Health Service would continue to deepen the partnership by strengthening disease surveillance, improving referral systems, expanding healthcare access, and promoting healthy lifestyles within correctional facilities.
He said that as Ghana works towards Universal Health Coverage and implements the Free Primary Health Care policy, every segment of the population, including persons in correctional facilities, would have access to quality healthcare.
He commended the Ashanti Regional Command of the Ghana Prisons Service, led by Deputy Director of Prisons James B. Mwinyelle (Ing.), as well as development partners and other stakeholders, for supporting the establishment of the Medicines and Equipment Bank.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would improve healthcare delivery within Ghana's correctional system and congratulated the Ghana Prisons Service on the achievement.
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