The Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), in partnership with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), has commenced a five-day intensive training aimed at strengthening HIV data collection and reporting capacities among officers in prison facilities across the country.

The training, which began on Monday, April 28, is specifically designed for selected HIV/TB focal persons from all 46 prison establishments nationwide.

It focuses on enhancing the participants’ skills in using standardized data collection tools, formulating standard operating procedures (SOPs), conducting monitoring and evaluation exercises, and validating reporting instruments.

The opening ceremony brought together key stakeholders in prison and public health, including the Director of Prisons in charge of Health, Mrs. Joana Fofo Tackie-Otoo, Programme Manager of the NACP, Dr. Ayisi Addo, and Programme Manager for the TB Control Programme, Dr. Yaw Adusi-Poku.

Also present were the National Prisons HIV/TB Focal Person, ADP Matilda Nyampong; Officer in charge of Public Health at the Prisons Headquarters, ADP Dr. Ama Boadu; Dr. Yvonne Nartey; CSP Benedict Osei of the Nsawam Medium Prison Hospital; and Supt. Florence Djoleto from the Senior Correctional Centre infirmary.