By Hannah Marion Namukasa
The Uganda Police Force in Patnership with the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), have developed a program of screening TB, HIV and Malaria at the selected 16 pilot Police Stations. The program targets suspects who are in Police custody, victims of crime and other stakeholders in the Criminal Justice system (CJS). The program is intended to minimize transmission of the captioned diseases among suspects in police custody and other stakeholders in the CJS in the Central Region.
The onsite project was Tuesday, launched by the Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Kahinda Otafiire (Maj Gen Rtd) at Jinja Road Police station.
The Minister commended the office of the Director Public Prosecution for patnering with the Uganda Police Force noting that the screening of these suspects will prevent police officers from contracting diseases especially Tuberculosis.
The Minister also handed over information, Education and communication (IEC) materials that include medical forms, static billboards, and pull-up banners to facilitate screening of suspects and create awareness.
The 16 selected police stations include; Kiira Road, Kawempe, Katwe, Kabalagala, Kasangati, Entebbe, Nagalama , Kajjansi, Mukono, Natete, Wandegeya, Special Investigations Division Kireka, Old Kampala, Kira Division and Central Police Station – Kampala.
The project is being facilitated by the Ministry of Health- HIV Program.
