Minister orders screening of prisoners for TB by June 30

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28

Taking cognisance of The Tribune report on how tuberculosis (TB) had become a leading killer in the state’s overcrowded jails, Jail Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has ordered screening of all the prisoners for the disease.

Officials confirmed that the minister called a meeting of jail and health officials on Friday and issued directions that all new inmates would be screened for HIV, Hepatitis-C, drug addiction and TB before they enter the jails. So far as already admitted inmates are concerned, it was decided that all of them be screened for both diseases by June 30.

He also reviewed the treatment arrangements for screening and treatment of HIV, Hepatitis-C and drug addiction for the inmates.

Randhawa confirmed that the health officials explained to him that HIV screening and ART treatment, screening for Hepatitis-C and for drugs was being provided since September 2016. Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) centres have been set up in eight jails. And for Central Jail, Hoshiarpur, the matter has been taken up with Deputy Commissioner and the authorities concerned for providing adequate space for the OOAT centres. He said over 4,000 inmates had been enrolled for de-addiction treatment at these centres.

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