EXPERTS ROOT FOR TARGETED REFORMS TO ADDRESS CONGESTION WITHIN PRISONS

By Pili Chimerah 

Addressing the congestion challenge within African correctional facilities characterized the second day of deliberations at the ongoing first African Conference on Health in Detention.

Technical experts gathered at the forum identified overcrowding in prisons as a major setback in ongoing efforts to address the challenge which they said was further exacerbated by sluggish criminal justice systems that have been the major cause of congestion in regional Prisons. 

Democratic Republic of Congo Director of Prison Serge Kirhero Nonda suggested that the fast review of cases can be achieved by increasing the number of magistrates adding that making prisons to be correctional institutions instead of punishment areas will help reform those in detention. 

“Prisons should not be a place of suffering but a place where the detainees reform,” he said. 

In his presentation, the Uganda Prisons Service Assistant Commissioner James Kisambu said overcrowding in orrectional facilities has led to poor ventilation inside the wards, leading to the spread of infectious diseases. 

“Some recommendations include improving ventilation such as installing mechanical ventilation systems in old prison buildings,” said Kisambu. 

Other recommendations include integrating health intervention strategies in prison infrastructure development plans, engaging alternative sentencing approaches, strengthening on-entry screening strategies for tuberculosis, and administering TB Prevention Therapy. 

To deal with overcrowding among Kenyan Correctional facilities, the government through the State Department for Correctional Services has been advocating for innovative measures such as Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Other topics discussed during the second day of the conference included tackling Health in Detention in a conflict Environment, Overcrowding and infectious diseases, Nutritional Programmes in Detention, Tackling Mental Health in Detention among others.

The conference, which had attracted over 150 delegates from 23 African countries and 10 organizations, will come to a close tomorrow.