In a bid to protect detainees in detention facilities from being infected with transmitable diseases, arrangements are being made to screen all suspects for infections as they are being booked into police cells. The proceedure is being instituted thanks to funding from the Global Fund.
The information was given to officers in the criminal justice system who had raised the need for the improvement of medical screening facilities at the different detention facilities, so as to improve equitable health access for both suspects and inmates.
The innitiative is being implemeneted under a program codenamed; “Breaking the Barriers Initiative,” which aims at controlling the spread of HIV, TB and Malaria among inmates.
This three year initiative, stretching from 2024 to 2026 is meant to ensure that suspects are screened for HIV, TB and Malaria before detention.
Dr. Bernard Ndiwalana, the head of clinical services in Uganda Police Force-UPF, says this initial screening is geared towards providing adequate information pertaining the health wellbeing of suspects before detaining them in police cells.
By URN
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