THE Ghana Prison Service has officially launched a nationwide Medicine and Equipment Bank (MEB) Initiative aimed at improving access to essential medicines and healthcare services for inmates across the country.
The initiative also aligns with national policy and international human rights standards, particularly the principle of “equivalence of care” which requires that prisoners receive healthcare comparable to that available to the general population.
Speaking at the launch in Accra on Friday, the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, described the move as a significant step toward safeguarding the health, dignity, and wellbeing of persons in custody. She emphasised that although the Ghana Prisons Service has made notable progress over the years, including upgrading infirmaries, establishing clinics, and operating health centres in facilities such as Kumasi, Sunyani, Sekondi, Ankaful, and Koforidua, challenges persist in the availability of essential medicines and medical supplies.
“The Medicine and Equipment Bank Initiative is a practical response to these gaps. It is a centralised platform to mobilise, manage, and distribute medical supplies equitably across prison facilities, ensuring a sustainable healthcare delivery system,” she said.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie noted that the MEB would rely heavily on support from stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, civil society organisations, and individuals, stressing that the program would operate on principles of transparency, accountability, and sustainability, with regular reporting to partners.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Doreen Annan, underscored the importance of prisons health as a matter of public health and national security. “The health of incarcerated persons is not a privilege but a constitutional right. This initiative represents a shared responsibility between government, private sector, and civil society to ensure humane custody and public safety,” she said.
The Chief Director commended the Ghana Prisons Service for its foresight and called on stakeholders to support the initiative, describing it as a credible and impactful avenue for contributing to national development.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, highlighted the importance of access to essential medicines in rehabilitation efforts. She praised ongoing reforms within the Prison Service and encouraged sustained collaboration.
The Deputy Minister, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for La Dadekotopon in the Greater Accra Region, said as a demonstration of support, she was donating GH¢10,000 to the initiative and urged others to contribute to ensure its long-term success.
She said it will also contribute to broader public health outcomes by ensuring that individuals leaving correctional facilities are healthy and reintegrated safely into society.
The MP and deputy minister called for continued partnerships and commitments from stakeholders to sustain the initiative and uphold the fundamental human rights of inmates in Ghana.
BY AGNES OWUSU & HILDA NSAMI
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
