Poor jail health services slammed

THE biggest prison in the country needs to improve the health services it provides so that inmates do not have to be referred to hospitals, an official says.
Bomana Prison commanding officer acting Chief Superintendent Kiddy Keko, pictured, was commenting on sick inmates who escaped from the Port Moresby General Hospital on May 23 when they were taken there for treatment.
Keko said inmates had to be referred to the hospital because the prison health centre did not have specialised doctors and equipment. It also needs more medical officers.
“That has been an issue and is still an issue,” he said.
Keko said he had referred the matter to the Correctional Service Commissioner.
He said there would not be any need to send inmates to hospitals, if the prison health facility was good and there was enough doctors and health workers.
“We also do not have a two-way radio communication system. Staff are supposed to have a two-way radio systems, especially when escorting detainees,” he said.
“So if there is any incident, they should immediately contact me on radio and then we will disseminate the information to officers on the road.”
Keko said staff had their own mobile phones but there was no provision for phone credits for them.
Meanwhile, the public in Port Moresby have been urged to assist police and Correctional Service officers with information on the inmates.
Keko said they were not only escapees but a threat to the society as well.
He said he had posted pictures of some of the recent escapees last month on his Facebook page along with his contact details for the public to see and assist with information.
“We have notified the police and they are aware of it,” Keko said.
“We are working with them to have those escaped inmates arrested and brought back to prison.”
“Right now because of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, police are doing their normal duties and providing Apec security as well. Once we get information and some directions as to where those inmates are at, we will get in touch with the police to apprehend them.”
Keko said he was yet to confirm the total number of escapes that happened at the Port Moresby General hospital this year.