Jordan: ICRC organizes the fourth regional seminar on health care in detention
A three-day regional seminar on health care in detention organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began in Amman yesterday, with the participation of 44 prison directors and health care practitioners representing 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
In his opening speech, Mr Juerg Montani, head of the ICRC Delegation in Jordan, noted that "As an organization that visits detainees around the world, our experience has shown that many countries face challenges in ensuring access to adequate health care for detainees". He added, "However, our experience has also shown that when prison directors and health care practitioners have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and experiences, they can work together to identify solutions to such challenges".
During the seminar, participants will be able to discuss specific topics that arise in their daily work in places of detention, including the public health approach, the role of health staff, solitary confinement, the management of hunger strikes and dealing with communicable diseases.
Dr Raed Aburabi, who coordinates the ICRC's health activities in Jordan said; "Decent health care in places of detention in any country can only be achieved through collaboration between the detaining authority and the Ministry of Health". He added that "The ICRC is committed to continue working closely with the Jordanian authorities to support their efforts to provide better health care for detainees".
The ICRC has been organizing this regional seminar in Jordan, every two years, since 2012. This event provides prisons directors and health care practitioners with the possibility to discuss best practices and ways in which to improve access to health care for detainees.
The seminar included participants from Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
For further information, please contact:
Hala Shamlawi, ICRC Amman, tel: +962 777 398 794
