Kuwait (ICRC) –The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with the health and interior ministries of Kuwait, facilitated a study trip to Kuwait from 22 to 25 November for a team of Algerian officials. The purpose of the trip was to benefit from Kuwait's experience of providing health care at places of detention.
The Algerian team, consisting of two officials representing the ministries of health and justice, visited health-care facilities at a number of places of detention; they also met the officials in charge of these facilities as well as officials from the health and interior ministries of Kuwait.
"Preserving the health of detainees is one of the major challenges that authorities face. In this regard, Kuwait is among the most advanced countries in the region," said Yahia Alibi, the head of the ICRC's regional delegation in Kuwait, which covers the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. "Sharing experiences and best practices with other countries, as Kuwait is doing, is extremely helpful."
¨We are committed to safeguarding the health of detainees," said Brigadier Adel Abdul-Karim Al-Ibrahim, Director General a.i. of the General Directorate of Reformative Institutions at Kuwait Interior Ministry."Over the years, we have worked closely with the ICRC and drawn on its expertise to ensure that detainees throughout Kuwait have the living conditions to which they are legally entitled and that their physical and mental well-being is protected."
Dr. Reda Sahnoune, Director of the Directorate-General for Prison Administration and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Justice in Algeria, expressed his admiration for the quality of the health care provided by the Kuwaiti authorities at places of detention. "We are very pleased", he said, "to have had this opportunity to take a close look at Kuwaiti methods that have proven so effective."
As a neutral and independent organization, the ICRC works closely with detaining authorities and health-care personnel in various countries around the world to improve health-related services in places of detention. It has organized numerous local and regional seminars on the provision of health care in places of detention.
For further information, please contact:
Fouad Bawaba, ICRC Kuwait, tel: +965 9787 9434 or +965 253 22062
