CIDRZ committed to improving health systems in correctional facilities
OVER 141,000 MALES CIRCUMCISED FROM JAN, 2022 TO SEPT, 2022
November 9, 2022
The Community Comprehensive Health Package for Adolescents and Young People Project (C-COHP) Launched in Western Province
December 7, 2022
The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) has continued to support the Zambian government through a partnership with the Zambia Correctional Facilities to make sure both inmates and officers’ benefit from improved healthcare equitably.
Speaking at the 2-in-1 Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) Health Strategy and Operational 2022-2026 plan co-Financed by UNAIDS and CIDRZ through PEPFER and CDC, CIDRZ Director- tuberculosis, Dr. Monde Muyoyeta said this is a remembrance of the memorandum of understanding landmark that CIDRZ signed on 12th of May 2015 with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Ministry of Community Development (MCDMCH).
Dr. Muyoyeta said the MOU was not the beginning of partnership with the government of Zambia but an affirmation of agreement for the implementation of the health systems strengthening task in the Zambia Correctional Service.
She added that since the inception of CIDRZ in 2001, the organization has implemented ten (10) different projects in correctional facilities in partnership with the government of Zambia namely: TB REACH, ZaPHSS, TasP, CONTINUUM, ACHIEVE, EJJOH, DIGNITY-COVID, EJJOH-COVID, PROUDZ/KPIF-Prisons HIV Care and TBLON.
“CIDRZ has an overall goal of developing and capacitating a prison health system to be able to plan, manage and implement improved health services in Zambian Correctional Facilities” Dr. Muyoyeta said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Josephs Akafumba said, government wants to see both inmates and Officers benefit from improved collaborative healthcare delivery systems characterized by equity and integrity.
During the same event, the Prisons Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) co-chaired by CIDRZ and the ZCS, which is comprised of various civil society organizations thanked stakeholders for funding the development of the plan and for embracing strategic partnerships in inmate’s health welfare.
This was contained in a vote of thanks message which was delivered by PHAC Co-Chairperson Mr Clement N Moonga who is also CIDRZ’s Technical Advisor for Prisons Health.
