Prisoners at risk

Contagious skin diseases, respiratory problems and hypertension have been identified as the most common health problems of most prison inmates in the country.

The situation, according to medical experts, is dire and puts many in serious danger due to the poor healthcare facilities for inmates.

Last week, Firm Health Ghana Foundation, in partnership with Health Spring Pharmacy Limited, organised a screening exercise for some inmates at the Tarkwa Local Prison with various disease conditions.

The 20-member medical team – including one medical doctor, three physician assistants, six nurses, two lab technicians, two data collection personnel and six pharmacy assistants – undertook the exercise

In all, a total of 421 participants, including inmates, officers and their dependants, were screened.

Inmates saw the physician assistants on site to discuss pertinent health issues bothering them. Drugs were then prescribed based on the discussions. Inmates then moved to the dispensary unit set up on site to collect the prescribed drugs.

Some common diseases amongst the inmates include skin diseases, respiratory problems, feet disorders, hypertension cases & coughs.

The participants were also taken through body mass index checks, blood sugar level checks & urinalysis tests.

Special cases were attended to by the head of the medical team, Dr Joseph Darko.

Three inmates with hernia will be sponsored by Firm Health Ghana Foundation to undergo surgeries.