The first of the two identical 3-day Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for the Prison Healthcare Department (PHD) of the Ministry of Health on the updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for provision of healthcare in prisons took place from 30 October – 1 November in Istog/Istok, Kosovo.* The ToT followed the finalization of the updated SOPs, also produced with the support of the Council of Europe.

The ToT, which was originally planned for PHD members only, was expanded to include also social workers from the Kosovo Correctional Services (KCS), thus helping to strengthen the cooperation between KCS and PHD in providing better quality healthcare services to prisoners. Ten members of the PHD and five members from the KCS improved their knowledge of the revised SOPs and enhanced their trainers’ skills. As a result, they are now better prepared to deliver peer-to-peer trainings and present information efficiently, respond to participant questions, and facilitate activities that reinforce learning.

The ToT was also attended by representatives of the National Prevention Mechanism of the Ombudsperson Institution, Prison Inspectorate, Kosovo Probation Services, civil society, and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), who took the opportunity to refresh their knowledge about the SOPs in general, as well as learn of its novelties on mental health care, suicide prevention, and recording and reporting of injuries.

The ToT, which was facilitated by two international consultants and one local, was organized under the auspices of the Council of Europe project “Improvement of the treatment of persons deprived of liberty”.

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* All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United National Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.