On 20 September, the Council of Europe launched a series of training sessions on modern first aid standards with the aim to assist the Ministry of Corrections in preparing the non-medical staff of prisons to provide first aid for prisoners. The sessions cover the training of future trainers selected from the medical staff of the penitentiary service as well as training of the non-medical staff.

The syllabus for the future trainers is tailored to the specificity of the prison environment and consists of 11 theoretical and practical modules with special focus on: prevention of infections transmission, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, management external bleeding, chocking management, seizures, stroke, hypoglycemia of diabetics, electric injury, trauma and drug poisoning.

Upon completion of the training, the successful trainees will act as co-trainers and cascade their knowledge to the non-medical personnel of the penitentiary establishments throughout Georgia.

The training sessions are part of a European Union and Council of Europe joint action that aims at improving the provision of healthcare services in Georgian prisons. The activity is organised within the Project on “Human Rights and Healthcare in prisons and Other Closed Institutions in Georgia II” financed by the Programmatic Cooperation Framework of the European Union and the Council of Europe targeting the Eastern Partnership countries.