Stakeholders meet to discuss inmates’ health

Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Security, Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS) and those from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are meeting in Kigali to discuss how the health system in prisons can be improved.The three-day conference that has also attracted directors from all prisons in the country is the third of its kind. The conference will also act as a platform where prison representatives will present challenges in the prisons.The Commissioner General of RCS, Maj. Gen Paul Rwarakabije, noted the conference was of great importance in checking and upholding the mechanisms put in place to ensure that prisoners are in healthy conditions.“A lot has been going on in the health system in prisons, but this does not mean that it should be the end. There must be mechanisms of monitoring to ascertain whether the services introduced in our prisons are serving the intended purpose,” said Rwarakabije.He pointed out that the government has introduced a system where prisoners must undergo regular medical check-up.The commissioner said in case inmates do not respond to treatment given to them in these facilities, they are taken out to get medical attention with the help of the health insurance scheme commonly known as Mutuelle de Sante.Dr Read Abu Rabi, the ICRC Health in Detention Coordinator, said that his organisation is committed to working with the government and prison administration in particular to strengthen human resources and management capacity in the health facilities of RCS.“We consider what has been done as a step ahead, and it’s for that case that we come together build it up to another level,” he said.

National

Stakeholders meet to discuss inmates’ health