Parliamentarian Jeehan Mahmood has stated the rights of inmates and detainees to access healthcare need to be protected better. She made the statement while speaking as the chief guest of the ceremony held to inaugurate the symposium on healthcare rights of inmates and detainees, organised by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM).
Speaking at the ceremony, Parliamentarian Jeehan said one of the prominent issues highlighted in HRCM’s reports on prisons and detention centres is the lack of access to proper healthcare for inmates and detainees. Noting there is a large number of drug addicts in prisons and detention centres across the country, Jeehan said the centres are not equipped to treat and rehabilitate such individuals. She stated more efforts are needed to ensure the protection of the right to basic healthcare for all inmates and detainees.
The symposium by HRCM is participated by Ministry of Home Affairs, Maldives Police Service (MPS), Maldives Correctional Service (MCS), Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), National Drug Agency (NDA), Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) and Thibaa Psychology. HRCM said the symposium will include discussions on the challenges faced in providing healthcare services to inmates and detainees, and ways to resolve such issues.