Kolbe Foundation Promotes Health and Rehabilitation behind Prison Walls

The third annual health fair was held today at the central prison. It was held under the theme, “Kolbe Foundation, promoting health and rehabilitation: Healthier Citizens for a more productive nation” and seeks to expose the inmates to information on best practices to live healthy lives. News Five’s Duane Moody files this report from behind prison walls.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The Kolbe Foundation is promoting healthy living and today, the inmates at the central prison were invited to participate in an annual health fair held inside the compound. Up to thirteen organizations, including the Central Health Region, HECOPAB and Go Belize set up various booths to share information and conduct basic tests on the inmates so they can know their status. This is the third time that the Kolbe Foundation is hosting the fair.

Geraldo Puc

Nurse Geraldo Puc, Medical Administrator, Kolbe Foundation

“If you can see around, you can see a whole spectrum of different agencies which includes the chest clinic, the voluntary testing centres. You will also see some spiritual based groups; the Central Health Region, the whole team. Actually the Institute of the Creative Arts commissioned a participant as well and also a private N.G.O.  What we are trying to show; we are trying to show the inmates that health goes beyond physical.”

A holistic approach to being healthy incorporates physical, spiritual and social aspects of life. For the inmates, they are taking away some best practices in staying healthy behind bars, as well as when they return into the society. For sixteen-year-old Mark Patnett, he will be out in a few months and he has learnt a lot.

Mark Patnett

Mark Patnett, Inmate

“I learn about how to take care of myself, the hygiene, sexual productive health—I learn more—and I learn that you have to be healthy before having sex and it is not good to hide it from yo partner because serious things can happen in yo organs and thing soh. Then deh thing deh soh good fi learn because when yo learn dehn thing and yo know dehn thing deh soh, yo could take care of yourself more. You noh have to go dah the medic, you could take care of yourself by going to the pharmacist and know weh medication you need and you could take care of yourself.”

Dorla Faber

Dorla Faber, Inmate

“They give you HIV test, yo TB and they take yo weight and see how; yes. But it is very important for you to know your status because the lifestyles and what’s going on out in the world right now, you have to know.”

While they have been incarcerated for various reasons, the inmates are from the community and they do engage in risky sexual activities behind bars. Go Belize, advocates for best practices when it comes to sexual reproductive health.

Keyron Cacho

Keyron Cacho, Programmes Coordinator, Go Belize

“If we are talking about behaviour change, if we are talking about forming more productive citizens of Belize, then they also need to be a part of knowing exactly what is happening in regards to sexual reproductive health, in regards to ways in which we can be better citizens of Belize, particular when it comes to the health and well-being of ourselves.”

Duane Moody for News Five.