THE SICK PRISONER – An urgent call !!!

Throughout the world, prisons are built to correct people who engage in activities that violate the laws of the country. Prisons are supposed to be correctional centres but in our part of the world, the prisons have become dead traps and cemeteries. People are sent there and they are forgotten. Their loved ones abandon them and even when they are released, they are stigmatise, denied respect, honour, job, and even dignity.

In Ghana, Nsawam Medium Security Prison is one of the forty-five (45) prison establishments under the Ghana Prison Service. It is the biggest medium security prison facility in Ghana. It is located at Nsawam the capital of Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly, a district in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It currently has male and female separate prisons. It was initially built for a maximum capacity of eight hundred and fifty-one (851) inmates but currently it houses more than five thousand (5000) inmates (an over 587% increase). 

This massive increase in the numbers comes with its challenges such as congestion, water shortage, food inadequacy and more importantly health challenges. In a related article on Ghana Web (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Dumsor-heightens-violent-attacks-at-Nsawam-prisons-Prisons-chief-350493 ), Deputy Director of Prisons Sylvester Rabbles said the prisons (both male and female prisons) have become a “festering ground” for communicable diseases such as Hepatitis and Tuberculosis as well as skin rashes”. He added that because the officers work with them 24 hours a day, the officers easily contract such diseases and unfortunately transmit them to their families, who also infect others. Deputy Director of Prisons Sylvester Rabbles also added that lack of attention for the prisons can become a public health issue because when some of the infected prisoners are released they will carry the infection to the society and infect other people.

The Prison has an infirmary that takes care of the medical needs of the prison inmates but it is unable to take care of all the inmates. This is because the infirmary lacks adequate medical staff and resources such as drugs among others. A review of the Ghana Prison Service 2013 report says that eighty-six (86) inmates died in the year under review at the Nsawam Prisons. The top ten (10) medical conditions in the prisons are; Malaria, Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma, Skin diseases, Anaemia, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Gastroenteritis and Ascites. In a simple sentence, the medical situation in the Nsawam prison is not good.

For this reason, Perfect Life Health Services and the Ghana National Association of Adventist Students (GNAAS) have decided to organise a 5 days FREE medical outreach to the inmates and Officers of the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons. We are a group of health professional (Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Ophthalmologists and Laboratory technicians) and non-health professionals who are committed to put smiles on the faces of the inmates and officers. We will check their weight, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, malaria test, and eye test among others. We will also prescribe and give free medication where necessary. The program will come on from the 4^th to 8^th of January 2016.

We are reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 42-46.

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him,^[b] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This project is not just for us alone; we need all to come together and support us. We are therefore entreating all to donate towards this worthy cause. We need donation in the form of money and medical logistics to make this program a success.

You can send your donation to mobile money number 233(0)245849122 or to the bank details below.

Account Name:Ghana National Association of Adventist Students (GNAAS)
Bank: Ghana Commercial Bank
Account Number: 6031010135003 
Branch: KNUST

For further information on the program and to donate and support this program Kindly call

• James Mckeown Amoah – 0245849122 / 0572458689
• Clement Mensah Damoah – 0241178330 / 0209345205

God bless you richly as you give towards this worthy cause. Remember the words of Jesus: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.