Koforidua Prison Inmates Denied Medical Care

Inmates of the Koforidua Prison are being denied medical care as a result of the prison�s indebtedness to health providers operating under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The prison currently owes the SDA Hospital, Saint Joseph's Hospital and the Koforidua Regional Hospital about GH�40,000. The Assistant Controller of Prisons at the Koforidua Local Prison, Mr Samuel C. Otabil, made this known when the Koforidua Effiduase Area Prison Ministry of the Church of Pentecost presented assorted items to the inmates of the prison in Koforidua. The items included toilet rolls, plastic buckets, soap, second-hand clothing, bathroom slippers and first aid materials, all valued at GH�4,000. Mr Otabil said although some of the inmates had registered under the NHIS, most of those serving short sentences had not, hence the huge indebtedness. Help us He, therefore, called on individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the prison to stock its infirmary since it had a medical assistant who could treat minor ailments. He commended the church for the gesture and said it would go a long way to support the inmates. Presenting the items on behalf of the church, Pastor Joseph Kweku Boateng, said the church�s Prisons Ministry was moved by the plight of the inmates and decided to help. He called on society to not see all the inmates as outcasts since some of them were victims of circumstances. The leader of the inmates, Peter Latif, appealed to individuals and organisations to provide benches for the prisoners since most of them stood during church services. He used the opportunity to thank the church for the donation.