22 April 2013 – In a bid to improve health conditions for inmates in Upper Nile State's prisons, staff members of the UNMISS Indian Battalion hospital concluded a training course for corrections officers in basic laboratory techniques today.

Four medical assistants employed by the Malakal Central Prison received the practical training from the battalion's medical staff over the last month.

"This course (is one way to set) the South Sudan Prisons Service in the right direction to (provide humane treatment) for those held in custody," said UNMISS State Coordinator Deborah Schein.

Among other things, the training course instructed the medical assistants on the use of equipment already available at the central prison's medical facility for diagnosing illnesses such as malaria.

"This is a good initiative through which UNMISS is working hand in hand (with us) to (improve) the welfare of (inmates)," said Malakal Central Prison Director Brig. Gen. David Reath Malual.

In recent months, human rights organizations and the news media have drawn attention to the challenges and poor living conditions facing prisoners all over South Sudan, including the lack of medical care.

"It is a challenge that many of the prisons staff started off as part of the military and sometimes have limited education and management skills," said Gen. Abel Makoi Wol, Director General of the National Prisons Service, recently.

"We have the Prisons Act and regulations are being drafted, but we need capacity building," said General Wol. "Even if we have the best documents ... there will still be gaps."

The National Prisons Service is working with UNMISS and other partners to develop a more humane and accountable prison system in the country through initiatives such as the training for laboratory assistants in Malakal.