Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar inaugurates Chief Minister’s Prison Health Initiative
Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar today formally inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Prison Health Initiative: TB, Lungs and Beyond at Central Jail Quetta. Under this initiative, 3,000 prisoners and 1,500 police officers will be screened for 30 different diseases in 12 jails of Balochistan. The campaign aims to prevent diseases like lung diseases as well as hepatitis and HIV, manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promote the psychosocial well-being of prisoners.
The inaugural ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Provincial Coordinator of the Provincial TB Control Program Dr. Sher Afgan Raisani delivered the welcome remarks, while Director General Health Services Balochistan Dr. Amin Khan Mandokhel, Secretary Health Balochistan Mujibur Rahman and Inspector General Prisons Balochistan Capt. (R) Abdul Saeed Naveed highlighted the importance of this initiative in keynote addresses and termed it an important effort to improve the public health system in the province.
Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, while inaugurating the campaign, said in his address that provision of public health facilities in prisons is one of the top priorities of the government. He said that through comprehensive screening of prisoners and staff, not only timely diagnosis of diseases will be possible but also the health protection of a vulnerable section of the society will be ensured.
The Health Minister paid tribute to the entire team of the Provincial TB Control Program and said that this team is performing its national duty day and night with great effort, dedication and honesty, in which their sense of duty and spirit of public service are commendable. Furthermore, he thanked the Dopasi Foundation for providing technical support throughout the campaign, which has enabled the program to be carried out effectively and successfully.
This initiative has been launched under the leadership of the Provincial TB Control Program Balochistan, under the visionary leadership of the Minister of Health, in collaboration with Dopasi Foundation and supported by the TB Reach Initiative of the Stop TB Partnership.