Message from Health through Walls' Founder & President, John P. May, MD

Since 2001, Health through Walls (HtW) has built a team of experts, volunteers and staff to provide technical assistance and direct services to the prison health program of many developing countries. We have active programs in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Malawi. We supported a program inside a prison in GOMA in the Democratic Republic of Congo; provided consultation and support to the prison systems of Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique and Romania. Due to our unique experience, expertise, and successes, requests for assistance have been received from nations across the world. We are building partnerships and increasing our capacity to respond.

We partner with universities, medical and nursing schools, international and local not-for-profits (NGOs) and government offices, individual medical professionals, and UNAIDS to further the medical, legal and human rights of prisoners, and to assist in oversight and analysis of our work providing health care to prisoners.

We work with corrections administrations, the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations and U.S Department of State for better prison healthcare operations. The goal always remains to create sustainable and replicable health care services within each country.

We value the support of our colleagues at the American Correctional Association and International Corrections and Prison Association. In 2010, Iota Theta Phi Fraternity® joined us to bring more volunteers and talent.

Throughout all of the challenges and growth, our volunteers and donors continue to believe in our cause and effectiveness. None of our progress is possible without them. We are grateful for the generosity and financial support of family, friends, and long-term sponsors such as Armor Correctional Health Services, the Gilead Foundation, USAID/Haiti the Elton John AIDS Foundation and AIDS Healthcare Foundation. We are careful stewards of each donation, grant or offer of assistance.

The health of prisoners around the world has consequence for all of us. Infectious diseases respect neither the borders of prison walls, nor the borders of national shores. Adequate prisoner health not only controls infectious disease, but also contributes to safe, secure, and humane institutions - part of establishing a society of justice, prosperity and peace. We are proud of the steady progress toward that end, and our role in improving life for individuals and communities.

John P. May, MD, Founder & President