Beseo: Safe mental hospital and prison needed

Main Stories, National
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The National, Monday 28th November 2011

PAPUA New Guinea needs a safe and secure mental hospital and prison facilities, Correctional Services Minister Sai Sailon Beseo says.
He said this in the wake of the recent killing of two psychiatric patients who were inmates at the Laloki Mental Hospital.
Beseo, who had received a report from the acting chief executive officer, noted the serious situation the hospital was in.
He said the hospital did not only deal with those seeking help through referrals from the health system but catered for and kept patients referred to it by the courts and the prison system.
A Public Accounts Committee inquiry into hospitals had revealed the poor state of the hospital with no proper water and sanitation, deteriorating accommodation and other issues.
It was revealed that adult prisoners, including murderers, were living with minors and other mentally-ill patients.
Beseo said since jails in country did not have specialised facilities and trained personnel, “all prisoners who have psychological problems or those requiring special assessment are sent to the Laloki Hospital”.
He said because of the situation at Laloki, he wanted the CS administration to provide details of the numbers of prisoners in all jails who needed psychiatric treatment and those from jails or those referred by the courts to CS and held at Laloki.
Beseo said the provision of psychological and psychiatric services and those who required to be held in special facilities “is a question that correctional services cannot afford at the moment”.
“The CS cannot hold prisoners who require special care and treatment and for whom specialist personnel are required,” he said.
“As the CS cannot provide these services, I have directed the CS administration to look at a central holding facility at Bomana from which prisoners and those referred by the courts can be assessed and referred to Laloki Hospital for treatment, care and rehabilitation.”
 

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