Bangladesh: UNODC hands over ambulance to support health in prisons

Dhaka, Bangladesh/25 January 2023: Prison is a high-risk environment, exposing people in prisons to many health threats.  People in prison have multiple vulnerabilities to HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and other infections. Prison staff are also vulnerable to most of the diseases for which prisoners are at risk.

Responding to these challenges, UNODC, under its ongoing project, “Support to COVID-19 Infection Management for People in Prison and Persons with Drug Use Disorders in Bangladesh,” has been working with the Prisons Directorate, Government of Bangladesh towards equipping the prison system with tools and strategies to effectively counter public health emergencies such as COVID-19, and enhancing capacities of prison staff, officials and inmates to support pandemic preparedness and necessary health responses.

Building on this long-standing partnership, UNODC Regional Representative for South Asia Mr. Marco Teixeira formally handed over an Ambulance to the Inspector General of Prisons, Bangladesh Brigadier General ASM Anisul Haque. The ambulance was provided with the generous support of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

The Ambulance will support the Prisons Directorate in providing medical referral services to inmates.

Welcoming the initiative, Brigadier General Haque called the handover of the ambulance a “symbol of humanity” and acknowledged the need to strengthen evidence-based interventions in other areas including mental health, alternatives to imprisonment, and medical supplies.

Addressing the handover ceremony, Mr. Teixeira called for enhancing cooperation on prison reform, promoting prison health systems, the Nelson Mandela Rules and non-custodial measures.

Globally, the prevalence of drug use in prison is estimated to be at 20%, around four times higher than in the general population. 22% of people in prisons are sentenced for offences related to drug possession for personal use.

This activity contributed to SDG 3 and SDG 16: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)