Criminal Justice sector takes lead in fight against HIV, TB and Malaria with Global Fund support

 

Criminal Justice sector takes lead in fight against HIV, TB and Malaria with Global Fund support
By Hope Mafaranga 
Jinja

Uganda continues to grapple with the burden of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria three diseases that have strained the country’s health system and affected socio-economic development for decades. According to the Ministry of Health, Uganda is home to more than 1.4 million people living with HIV, while TB and malaria remain leading causes of illness and death, particularly among vulnerable populations.

As the country works towards eliminating HIV as a public health threat by 2030, multi-sectoral approaches have become central to the national response.

It is against this backdrop that the Criminal Justice Sector (CJS) has stepped onto the frontline of Uganda’s fight against HIV, TB and malaria, with critical support from the Global Fund.

Traditionally viewed as an enforcer of law and order, the sector is increasingly emerging as a key partner in public health protection.

Institutions such as the Uganda Prisons Service, Uganda Police Force detention centres and remand facilities have long been recognised as high-risk environments for the spread of infectious diseases due to overcrowding and limited access to healthcare.

In response to these challenges, the Criminal Justice Sector, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and with funding from the Global Fund, has embarked on comprehensive disease prevention, screening and treatment programmes across correctional facilities.

“Let me start by acknowledging the support from the Global Fund to Uganda as a country in the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria which have plagued us for decades. Support from Global Fund is very welcome and timely,” said Festo Nsenga, the Deputy Registrar, Inspectorate of Courts.

Nsenga explained that due to the devastating effects of HIV, TB and malaria on human capital development, government is making deliberate efforts to minimise their impact by 2030.

He made the remarks while closing a one-week orientation workshop for officials of the Criminal Justice Sector Program Management Unit (PMU), comprising the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prisons Service and other stakeholders, held at Nile Village Hotel in Jinja City.

Dr Benard Ndiwalana left the head of clinical services at the Uganda police with Festo Nsenga middle the high court registrar and Barbra Msinde the program coordinator in the office of the DPP speaking to the press.

“These efforts are targeting everyone using a multi-sectoral approach  to ensure that no one is left  behind,” he said.

Nsenga noted that the Ministry of Health came on board after the realisation that while the DPP carries out its constitutional mandate, gaps existed in the respect and promotion of people’s rights specifically the right to health during interaction with criminal justice processes.

“This has given birth to the ‘Breaking Down Barriers (BDB) initiative, whose overall aim is to be cognizant and address the barriers curtailing the full realization of people’s rights, particularly key and vulnerable populations including people in police and prison detention,” he noted.

He added that the core role of the Program Management Unit is to ensure that the BDB initiative is successfully implemented and embedded within Criminal Justice Sector processes.

Barbra Masinde, the Global Fund Coordinator in the Office of the DPP, disclosed that the Global Fund has so far disbursed UGX 5 billion to support Uganda’s Criminal Justice Sector in mitigating the effects of HIV, TB and malaria.

She said the DPP’s office began implementing the programme in 2018 under what was then known as the New Funding Model. The criminal justice sector, she explained, was brought on board following a baseline survey that revealed significant impediments to people’s access to their rights, particularly the right to health.

“Whereas we are responsible for the rights to justice in all our different sectors, it was noted that in dispensing our individual mandates we affect people’s rights, specifically the rights to access to health, which we have now taken up through this initiative,” she said.

Masinde pointed out that major health challenges in correctional facilities go beyond individual institutions, citing inadequate funding amid competing government priorities.

She added that structural constraints such as small and congested cells in police stations and prisons pose significant hurdles.

“Efforts are underway to mitigate these challenges by working to establish isolation rooms for suspected individuals, which will help prevent the spread of these diseases and ensure that those who are sick receive the care they need,” she said.

Dr Bernard Ndiwalana, the Head of Clinical Services at the Uganda Police Force, said the intervention across facilities is aimed at identifying individuals suspected of having TB or malaria through decentralised screening conducted by trained non-medical personnel.

“We are training non-medical personnel to screen for HIV, TB and malaria following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) signed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), which will enable us to identify potential cases early and refer them to health facilities for further management. Those found to be on treatment will be maintained, thereby improving access,” she said.

She further noted that Uganda aims to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030, in line with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets.