Providing All Social Strata with Health-Care Services Is Among the Main Concerns of the Ministry of Health

Head of Department of Occupational Health and Special Jobs in the Environmental and Workplace Health Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education stated that providing all social strata with health-care services is among the main concerns of the Ministry of Health.

According to WEBDA, in the National Workshop of Occupational Health of Hakeh Prison hosted by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Health of State Prisons Organization, the Cooperative Foundation of Prisoners, and the Environmental and Workplace Health Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Dr. Ezatian stated that providing services for the public, esp. the most neglected people who are working in prison workshops, is considered among the best humane activities.

He pointed out that regarding the concept of development, it is attempted to extend development into all aspects. In this regard, all human needs including basic needs, as the most fundamental needs, as well as social needs of people must be taken into consideration.

Pointing out that earning the trust of prisoners is the most significant step in the promotion of health of this class of the society, Dr. Ezatian stated that regarding the concept of development, occupational health projects are aimed at earning the trust of this strata so that prisoners understand that the Health System is concerned with their health.

Head of Department of Occupational Health and Special Jobs in the Environmental and Workplace Health Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education added that reinforcing the structure of occupational health in prisons will significantly contribute to the process of activities of business enterprises in prisons.

Pointing to the high rank of the country in the severity and frequency of incidents, he stated that one of the main reasons for this issue is poor occupational health in workshops, especially the construction industry.

Dr. Ezatian added that by reinforcing the infrastructure of occupational health in prison workshops and promoting the health of prisoners, the 2000-member group present in prisons can influence the health indicators in the country.

Promotion of Health of Prisoners, As Part of the Society, Is Among the Duties of the Health Sector

In this workshop, pointing to the various dimensions of health including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, Deputy of Department of Health of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences stated that with the special attention of the health sector to various dimensions of people apart from their race, ethnicity and social status, health-care of prisoners, as a group of society, is among the duties of the health sector.

Pointing to the goal of prison as a place for the safety and improvement of the society, Dr. Farahmand considered intersectional partnerships a requirement to achieve this goal.

Deputy of Department of Health of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences added that considering the special conditions prisoners encounter, their spiritual and mental health is of high significance, and fortunately with the help of planning in recent years, special measures have been taken in this respect.

Dr. Farahmand added that job creation leads to reduction of harm for prisoners and their family and will significantly contribute to the promotion of their mental health.

He pointed out that occupational health services for prisoners, along with other employees in the society, is a matter of concern to the Health System of the country. Considering the primacy of prevention over treatment, the prison staff are provided with special services by performing health screening tests.

Dr. Ali Ibrahimi, the Deputy Director General of Health of the State Prisons Organization, and Saeedi, Deputy of Cooperative Foundation of State Prisoners were among the other speakers in this meeting.

It is worth mentioning that the National Workshop of Occupational Health of the Country’ Prisons, hosted by the Department of Health of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and attended by Occupational Health experts of Universities of medical sciences and prisons of the country was held in Homa 2 Hotel of Mashhad for two days.