Correction facilities reforms cheer NGO

Rogers Kalero  writes @sunzambian In But Free (IBF), a non governmental organization concerned with the welfare of inmates has said developmental projects happening in the country which include agricultural infrastructure , housing, recruitment of professional staff including health workers and inmate welfare are key in the transformation of the prison service into a correctional service. IBF board chairman Godfrey Kabengele said the leadership of the Zambia Correctional Service under Dr Chileshe Chisela had demonstrated high level of commitment to the transformation of the organization  and improvement of the welfare of the inmates. Mr Kabengele said during the annual conference where together with its partnership reflected on a mission to prevent and control the transmission of HIV, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases  in Zambia correctional facilities. “As IBF, our partnership with Zambia Correctional Service has been there for the past 25 years. I must say the leadership of Zambia Correctional Service under Dr Chileshe has demonstrated high level of commitment to the transformation of the service. “This can be attested to by the various developmental projects happening country wide including agricultural infrastructure, housing, recruitment of professional staff including health workers and inmate welfare” Mr Kabengele said Mr Kabengele said he was gratified to note that Zambia Correctional Service has put in place to combat the covid 19 pandemic. “We are also happy that as In But Free, we partnered with other stakeholders to respond to this challenge by donating face masks, soaps, hand washing basins and stands, disinfectants, and hand sanitizers, surgical and industrial gloves and capacity building of frontline staff in covid 19 amounting to K159, 888,” he said. He said his organization was grateful to the Zambia Correctional Service for supporting in but free since 2008 on the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights for juveniles at Kamfinsa male correctional facility and Katombora Reformatory School. “We value this collaboration from the bottom of our hearts as it has already demonstrated positive results in the lives of our juveniles held in these facilities. “These programmes are in line with the government aspirations as enshrined in the seventh national development plan and the ministry of health current national strategy,” he said