Addressing the health needs of women in prisons
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UNODC Iran in collaboration with the Iranian Drug Control Headquarters organized a one-day consultative meeting on the health care services for women in prisons on 21 November 2018. The aim of the consultative meeting was to review HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes and the availability of services for women in prisons by going through an action guide and checklists developed by WHO and UNODC.
The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Hamid Sharifi from the Kerman HIV Knowledge Hub. Senior officials and experts from the Islamic Republic of Iran Ministry of Health, Prisons Organizations, State Welfare Organization and Drug Control Headquarters participated in the meeting.
In the opening session, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, UNODC Iran Country Representative, thanked the Iranian authorities for supporting joint events between UNODC and the Drug Control Headquarters and he wished everyone a successful and pleasant meeting and hoped that the meeting would help for more targeted addressing of health needs of women in prison and upon their release from prison.
Dr. Mehrzad Tashakorian, Director General of Health and Treatment Department of the Prisons Organisation presented the achievements on HIV prevention, treatment and care in prisons for women, including the provision of counselling, Methadone Maintenance Therapy, private conjugational rooms and cultural and vocational activities for women prisoners and their care for their small children.
Dr. Farid Barati Sadeh, Deputy Head of the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Addiction of State Welfare Organisation (SWO), reviewed HIV prevention programmes and activities and stated that the SWO has an active role in the field of social and addiction issues. Finally, he announced readiness to collaborate with Prisons Organisation in addressing women's needs through providing post-release support.
During the meeting, participants were divided into smaller groups in order to review existing practices and programmes. The review included legislation, policies, physical state and location as well as available facilities in prisons, registration, screening, assessment, treatment plan, services and commodities and health services together with coordination of prisons with health and welfare systems and coordination and preparatory planning for release and after-care services. Towards the end of the workshop, the groups presented their findings, for summary and wrap-up.
This meeting was funded under the UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework channelled through the HIV/AIDS Unit of UNODC.
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For further information, please contact UNODC Country Office in Iran:
Tel.: (+98-21) 8887 8377-81
Fax: (+98-21) 88796700
Email: unodc-iranfieldoffice@un.org