Madrid conference seeks best practice in prison health protection

A conference on prison health protection: What Works in the Prevention and Control of Major Communicable Diseases in Prison was held in Madrid on 29-30 October 2009.

The conference was hosted by the Spanish Ministry of Health and organised by the World Health Organisation Europe and a number of other health related organisations. It was attended by over 300 delegates from some 65 countries from all parts of the world. Spain was chosen as the venue both because of its EU presidency and its success in addressing serious public health challenges in prison, particularly those relating to drug use.

The aim of the conference was to present and discuss, in plenary and workshop sessions, evidence about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, TB, Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted diseases and other infectious diseases in the prison context; to acknowledge best practices on the basis of documented experience, and to include these in a plan of action for improvement in prison health as part of a public health strategy.

Mary Murphy, Penal Reform International’s Policy Director participated in workshops on early identification and aftercare, mental health, Hepatitis C screening and treatment, prison health monitoring, use of radio for health promotion, diversion of sick people from prison through use of alternative pre-trial measures, health and human rights, and approaches to TB and HIV control in prisons in the former Soviet states. PRI’s work on health and criminal justice has included work with medical partners in Central Asia and Moldova on TB control and legislative reform to increase transparency and accountability, and to reduce the overcrowding which contributes to the spread of infectious diseases in prison and inhibits effective disease control.

A document, the Madrid Recommendation, was presented to the final plenary.