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The Public Health Officer at Sekondi Central Prison, DSP Jackline Owusu Pra, has raised concerns over a potential tuberculosis (TB) outbreak at the facility if urgent interventions and precautions are not taken.
She revealed that 15 inmates are currently undergoing TB treatment, while many others struggle to take their medication due to inadequate nutrition.
She made this known in an exclusive interview to Angel TV western regional reporter Nana Fynn during the 2024 Annual Performance Review by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metro Health Directorate.
DSP Owusu Pra explained that TB medication requires sufficient food intake to be effective. However, the daily feeding allowance per inmate is only GHS 1.80, which must cover three meals.
According to her, this meager amount makes it nearly impossible to provide nutritious meals, leading to resistance among inmates when taking their medication.
“We often struggle with them before they take their medication because they don’t get enough food to eat,” she said.
“TB medication demands more food, but with our current feeding situation, it’s a big challenge” she added.
She further emphasized that TB is highly infectious, and inconsistent medication increases the risk of transmission within the prison.
In her view, while TB patients are isolated, interactions during cooking and other activities create avenues for potential spread, it also endangers not only prison staff and fellow inmates but also the general public.
While some support has come from the Ministry and other directorates in the form of food supplements like Tom Brown, the supplies are insufficient and deplete quickly.
“Imagine 15 male inmates sharing a small portion of Tom Brown for breakfast, what about lunch and dinner? And for more than four months, we have not received any Tom Brown” She said.
DSP Owusu Pra is appealing to philanthropists, NGOs, corporate organizations, community leaders, and government agencies to step in and provide urgent food assistance.
She suggested essential food items such as rice, gari, milk, and other provisions needed to ensure inmates receive proper nutrition while undergoing treatment.
In response to these concerns, the Metro TB Coordinator, William Kwesi Blankson, acknowledged the severity of the issue, stressing that TB cases in prisons could quickly escalate into an outbreak if not properly managed.
“Inmates do not have the same opportunities as people outside. They cannot work to earn money or provide for themselves they rely entirely on the meals they are given” he explained.
According to him, Tom Brown is not supplied directly by the district but rather by the National TB Program (NTP). However, distribution depends on when supplies arrive. Whenever received, they ensure that the inmates get their share.
“I have been in touch with the medical officer, Mr. Sunny, to assess the situation. Although we cannot provide Tom Brown ourselves, since we only distribute what we receive from the national level, we are committed to finding ways to support the inmates, even in small ways” he said.
The TB Coordinator warned that failure to ensure inmates complete their treatment could lead to two major public health risks.
Despite these challenges, he emphasized their commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure inmates adhere to treatment. However, he said that the supply of Tom Brown is beyond their control, as it depends on availability from the national level.
“Your support can make a significant difference in ensuring these inmates recover fully while protecting public health,” DSP Owusu Pra said.
