Medical camps set up in prisons

LAHORE: Provincial Minister Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir has said that free medical camps were established in 43 prisons across the province on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz where over 70,000 prisoners and jail staff would be screened.

The free medical camps conducting blood screening for HIV (AIDS), Hepatitis B, C, blood pressure, diabetes and TB of jail inmates and their data obtained would be computerised and their privacy and confidentiality would be maintained, he added.

The minister expressed these views while talking to the media after inaugurating the free medical camp organised by the Punjab AIDS Control Programme at District Camp Jail Lahore Hospital. He also inaugurated the Quran e-library while visiting District Camp Jail.

Inspector General Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir, Project Director Punjab AIDS Control Programme Dr Sofia Bilal and PHFMC CEO Dr Asim Altaf also accompanied the minister. Imran Nazir also inquired about the medical facilities from the incarcerated patients in the prison hospital.

He said that free medical camps were established in all the prisons of Punjab from May 27 to June 1. In the light of the screening data, an effective plan will be formulated for the treatment of the prisoners.

He said that if the screening of the prisoners was not completed, the duration of the medical camp can be extended. The minister said that the health department has taken over the management of jail hospitals which would be converted into model centres by revamping these hospitals.

He said that in government hospitals and health centres, doctors, nurses, staff, required medical equipment, lab facilities were being provided on an emergency basis. The minister thanked the IG Prisons for providing full support to the prison hospitals.