UNODC ORGANISES TRAINING WORKSHOP ON HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION FOR STATIONS IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR

UNODC ORGANISES TRAINING WORKSHOP ON HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION FOR STATIONS IN THE NORTHERN SECTOR

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has organised a four-day training workshop on the theme, ‘Health Promotion and Disease Prevention’ for some selected prison officers in the Northern Sector.

The training which took place in Tamale from Tuesday 16th October 2023 to Friday 20th October 2023, was part of UNODC three years structured support scheme programme aimed at building the capacity of officers in promoting health, improving conditions and prevention of diseases in the prisons in line with the Nelson Mandela Rules. It was funded by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

The participating stations were Wa Central, Bawku Local, Gambaga Local, Navrongo Central, Salaga Local, Yendi Local and the Tamale Central Prisons.

The training forms part of efforts to promote and improve health conditions in the prisons as well as build the capacity of prison health practitioners and paramedics in line with international best practices and standards.

Participants were taken through key aspects of promoting and improving health conditions in the prisons as enshrined in the Nelson Mandela and the Bangkok Rules for the treatment of prisoners.

Officers were taken through topics such as:

Introduction to health promotion, disease prevention, legal and institutional framework for health promotion, communicable and non-communicable diseases, risk factors, surveillance, prevention and management of mental health, COVID 19, HIV AIDS, alcohol and drug use in prison, counselling, depression and suicide prevention among others.

The Northern Regional Commander and the Officer-In-Charge of Tamale Central Prison, DDP. Thompson Otsyokpo, emphasized that the Service’ vision to attain world class standard and excellence in corrections management calls for strives towards quality healthcare delivery and improving health conditions in the prisons to achieve such ends.

DDP. Otsyokpo congratulated all the participants for their dedication, discipline and active involvement throughout the training programme. ‘Knowledge acquired is only useful when transferred and applied effectively at your various work places. I therefore urge to go and put the knowledge gained into good use for the benefit of the Service’ he advised.

He expressed his appreciation to the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the UNODC for their immense support to the Prisons Service in recent times most especially for bringing the workshop to the Northern segment of the Ghana Prisons Service. Certificates of attendance were later presented to the participants.

The project coordinator of the UNODC, Mr Christoph Capelle, thanked the Northern Regional Commander of Prisons and the Prisons administration for their collaboration which culminated into the success of the workshop.

Also present at the workshop were Dr. Mercy Karanja (UNODC Consultant), Mr Caleb Agodzo (Project Administrator, UNODC), Mrs. Patience Boahin (Regional Health Promotion Officer, Ghana Health Service), CSP Dr. Augustina Ama Boadu (OIC Public Health, Prisons Headquarters), DSP Dr. Florence Djoletoe (Medical Officer, Nsawam Prisons Hospital) and DSP Stephen Okai Aboagye (Coordinator UNODC Training Programmes).

Report by DSP David Kwame Afatsawu (PRO N/R

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