By Chito Chavez
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Thursday that it has been concentrating on its health programs to ensure the wellness and well-being of the persons deprived of liberty (PDL) under its care.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)
(Wikipedia / MANILA BULLETIN)
Through the BJMP Directorate for Health Service, BJMP spokesman Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said a three-day summit was recently held for health practitioners that prioritized the development of healthcare standard and reform programs for the PDL.
He noted that more than 70 health professionals attended the recent summit where medical officers, nurses, psychologists, psychometricians and dentists were the participants.
“The summit enables our organic personnel who are health care professionals to devise a more responsive health policy to address the growing health concerns of PDL and personnel.” BJMP Jail Director Allan S. Iral said.
He noted the “conference is an avenue to revisit the existing policies and health programs that require enhancement to fit the current healthcare setting in detention facilities under the BJMP’’.
“The forum also seeks to clarify and institutionalize responsive protocols to the concerns on personnel recruitment, training, and promotion,’’ he added.
Director for Health Service Jail Senior Superintendent Arthur Lorenzo also emphasized “the need to unify the implementation of policies and to improve the quality of healthcare service in jails’’.
“We must enhance the quality, coordination, and accessibility of basic healthcare services in jails as our first step in reforming our health system,” Lorenzo said.
Solda said among the highpoints of the session was the sharing of accomplishment and best health practices in the regions.
Among them were the continuous effort to make all jails tobacco-free facilities in compliance with the Department of Health’s administrative directive promoting 100 percent smoke-free environment.
In 2018, Solda said there were 122 BJMP jails recognized as tobacco-free facilities while 66 jails are still on the process of validation based on the quality standards of Tobacco Prevention and Control set by the World Health Organization.
The summit was also geared towards developing future health projects such as digitization of PDL health records and other technology-driven efforts to improve the healthcare system in jails.
One of the enriching developments the Directorate for Health Service made earlier this year was the crafting of mental health program manual which outlines the services and interventions offered to ensure the mental wellness of both PDL and personnel.