Uganda’s Police Force is taking significant steps to protect detainees from infectious diseases.
Arrangements are being made to screen all suspects for infections as they are booked into police cells.
The program, dubbed “Breaking the Barriers Initiative,” aims to control the spread of HIV, TB, and Malaria among inmates.
Dr. Bernard Ndiwalana, head of clinical services in the Uganda Police Force, explained that the screening is geared towards providing adequate information on the health well-being of suspects before detaining them.
“The data captured from the suspects enables us to detect those who are infected with HIV, so that arrangements are made for them to continue with their treatment, despite living under detention,” Ndiwalana said.
He added that suspects with malaria are quickly started on treatment to avoid escalation of the infection to either anaemia or death.
For TB, suspects are screened and those who test positive are isolated in special rooms, enabling timely treatment.
Ndiwalana noted that most police cells are small, affecting isolation protocols, but plans are underway to improvise isolation spaces at all police stations across the country.
“The isolation spaces will deter the spread of contagious diseases among suspects during detention,” Ndiwalana said.
He further explained that the police have designated special registers at different police stations where the medical data of suspects is captured and shared among the different institutions in the criminal justice system, easing access to healthcare services.
Barbara Masinde, chief state attorney and project coordinator, said the project was initiated in 2018 following a baseline survey that showed the criminal justice system was infringing on inmates’ right to health.
“The survey indicated that there was a need for improvement in medical screening facilities at detention facilities to ensure equitable health access for both suspects and inmates,” Masinde said.
She added that the project has led to significant improvements, with 91% of inmates now having access to quality healthcare services.
“These are Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs, which were signed by the Inspector General of Police, allowing compulsory screening of suspects for TB and other illnesses,” Masinde said. “This breaks the chain of new infections among suspects detained in the same cell and enables isolation before further prosecutions.”
Masinde emphasized that contagious diseases like TB spread quickly in small, congested cells with poor ventilation, making compulsory screening services essential to deter new infections among detainees.
The police are currently training officers who are the first responders and recipients of suspects after arrest to detect and screen early, aiming to further improve healthcare outcomes within the criminal justice system.