UNAMID provides free medical services to inmates and staff at Nyala Central Prison, South Darfur

Photo by Mutaz Munafal, UNAMID.

Photo by Mutaz Munafal, UNAMID.

Photo by Mutaz Munafal, UNAMID.

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29 Nov 2016

UNAMID provides free medical services to inmates and staff at Nyala Central Prison, South Darfur

On 27 November 2016, UNAMID Rule of Law - Prison Advisory Unit (PAU), in partnership with the Mission's Nigerian peacekeepers provided free medical services to more than 200 inmates and staff at Nyala Central Prison as part of a vital rehabilitation process for the inmates during their confinement.

The provision of free medical services falls within the framework of the support provided by the Rule of Law Prison Advisory Unit to the state prison and is aimed at promoting health services for the inmates as well as engendering the close working relations and collaboration between PAU and the state prisons.

Speaking at the occasion, the State Prison Director, Colonel Salaheddin Ibrahim Abakar, expressed his appreciation for efforts made by UNAMID through its Prison Advisory Unit in providing support to the Nyala Central Prison administration by implementing capacity-building workshops and the medical outreach programme. “This goodwill gesture from UNAMID is in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed last February between the Sudan General Directorate of Prisons and Reform and the Mission, through which the Mission’s Rule of Law Section would get direct access to the inmates for the sake of discharging its mandate in an efficient manner,” Colonel Abakar added.  

In his response, the Nigerian Commanding Officer, Colonel Zakari Saidu, commended the joint collaboration and coordination that exists between UNAMID and the State Prison Administration, particularly in allowing the smooth conduct of the free medical services activity in the prison premises. During this exercise, Nigerian peacekeepers also assisted with the removal of a septic tank which had become a serious health hazard to prison and surrounding communities. 

Additionally, they handed over  shaving toolkits, two footballs and a volley ball to the inmates.