Better health services for jails

 By LAZARUS BIRA
INMATES around the country will have better access to basic health services after the signing of an agreement between the Correctional Services and Department of Health yesterday.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by Acting Correctional Services Commissioner Michael Waipo and Health Secretary Pascoe Kase and witnessed by department executives.
Waipo said the agreement paved the way for the CS to provide  health services to inmates as regulated by the Health Department.
He said it would ensure the prisons kept healthy standards, which was part of CS mandated duty.
Kase said: “The partnership with the Correctional Services further enhances, strengthens and broadens the health services provided by CS to its staff, their families and prisoners.
“My department honours this agreement and will work closely with the Correctional Services in the areas of policies, monitoring and standards to ensure they provide adequate and quality services to the recipients.”
Kase said this was a milestone for the department and CS working in partnership through resource sharing, which would enable people to receive the health care they deserved.
He said they would work together to provide basic services such as outpatient services.
Only health extension officers would be available to serve the people.
Waipo said the Australia government had given K480,000 for a two-year project that led to this signing.
K280,000 was used to purchase new medical equipment and
improve the existing facilities and K150,000 was used for consultation and development of the MOA.
A second MOA is expected to be signed later in the provinces between the provincial health departments, CIS and the provincial administrators.