More than 200 prison officers and inmates at Tamale Central Prison have benefited from a two-day tuberculosis screening and mental health outreach organised by the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
The six member medical team, led by Mrs Felicia Vuu, carried out tuberculosis contact tracing, screening, immunisation and mental health education as part of efforts to improve early detection and reduce the spread of the disease within the prison.
A total of 126 prison officers and Prison Officers Association members, along with 84 inmates, were screened during the exercise.
Participants received tuberculosis immunisation, counselling and health education. Sputum samples were collected from individuals suspected of having the disease, while those considered to be at risk were enrolled on Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy.
The team also held separate mental health education sessions for officers and inmates, focusing on recognising the early signs of mental health conditions, available treatment options and the need to reduce stigma.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Commander, Superintendent Wristberg Maxinus thanked the Tamale Teaching Hospital for the intervention and appealed for similar programmes to be organised regularly, citing overcrowding in the prison as a major public health concern.
The Northern Regional Command reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with health institutions to safeguard the health and wellbeing of both prison officers and inmates through continued preventive healthcare initiatives.
