More than 1,250 people were screened for prostate, fibroids, ovarian cyst, gynaecological issues, abdominal problems, liver, kidney, spleen, optical problems, and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Similarly, counseling sessions were also organised for the inmates.

As part of the exercise, the two NGOs donated some pharmaceutical drugs from M&G pharmaceuticals and other products to the prison’s administration.

Purpose

The Project Coordinator of Grikob Foundation Ghana, Ms Ms Irene Okyere after the exercise said the rationale for organising the health screening at the prison was to reach out to both the prison officers and the inmates through health care.

That, she added, the two NGOs partnered to bring smiles on the faces of both the officers and inmates at the prison.

“We wanted them not to feel left out”, she said, noting that the two NGOs would be organising similar exercises for other prisons in the country.

Ms Okyere said as a health and humanitarian focused NGOs, they would continue to bring health relief programmes to the less privileged people in the society.

Concerns

She, however, expressed worry over the high prevalence of STIs among the inmates, particularly at the male prison.

She also expressed concern over the state of the prison’s health facility, adding that “the prison’s health facility is deprived of health logistics and pharmaceutical drugs”.

Ms Okyere has, therefore, called on other NGOs and benevolent organisations to assist and support the prison to improve upon their health facility in order to enable them provide the needed health needs of the inmates.

She has also appealed to pharmaceutical companies to support the two NGOs with drugs and other pharmaceutical products so that they could reach out to many more prison inmates in the country.

Appreciation

She expressed their gratitude to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam Adoagyiri Constituency, Mr Annoh Dompreh; Blueskies Company Ltd and M&G pharmaceuticals Ltd for their support towards the health screening exercise.

The Director of Grikob Foundation Ghana, Mr Joshua Kobla Adzakpa, for his part, said the exercise would go a long way to improve the health conditions of both the officers and the inmates.

The Second-in-Command (2IC) of the Nsawam male prison, Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Mr Samuel Owusu-Amponsah, commended the two NGOs for the exercise.