The management and volunteers of the newly established Fresh Start Youth Foundation was recently trained in a capacity building workshop organized by PRAWA.

The workshop tagged “Pilot Course on Prison Reform and Justice Sector Intervention” was held in PRAWA Conference Hall with the objectives of understanding the importance of prison and justice sector reforms and best practices; and understanding the link between prison and justice sector interventions and kingdom work.
The workshop facilitated by PRAWA Executive Director, Dr Uju Agomoh, had in attendance the Fresh Start Youth Foundation team led by Pastor Edwin of House of the Rock Church, Enugu, a Consultant Psychiatrist and former Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Enugu, Dr Ahamefula Agomoh and PRAWA team.

In the course of the workshop, participants were classed into Rehabilitation, Legal, and Intervention groups to brainstorm on issues facing asylum inmates with mental health challenges in the Enugu prison and come up with ways to solve the problems. The Rehabilitation Group identified social issues like isolation and lack of social activities; environmental issues which includes poor sanitation, poor ventilation, clothing and inadequate light and water system; and medical issues such as improper diagnosis, treatment and management of asylum inmates. The group proffered solutions such as creating social activities through provision of public address system for music, acquisition of proper clothing; renovation of toilet, light, water system, proper sanitation by fumigating and beautifying the environment; and proper diagnosis, treatment and management of inmates through partnership with doctors and psychiatrists to provide medical and psychiatric treatment.

The Legal group’s strategy is to take action against families who dump their own in the asylum ward through investigation, petition, threat of media involvement, court action and also commence on a sensitization programme for judges, magistrates, law enforcement agencies, the Nigerian Bar Association, and members of the public.

The Intervention group’s approaches to achieving desired results are investigation, empowerment, counseling, partnership with other organizations, monitoring and evaluation as well as public education and sensitization activities.