Freedom and Death Inside the Jail.pdf - The Action Program for ...

Inmates are prone to
contagious diseases because
of poor living conditions.
To maximize the
use of medicines,
health personnel
prioritize inmates
whose conditions are
already serious.
38
Freedom and Death Inside The Jail
Medical Conditions
Inmates are prone to contagious diseases because of the poor
living conditions in their cells. They sleep in overcrowded, poorly
ventilated cells. The supply of potable water is very limited. Food
rations have inadequate nutritional content. Sick and healthy
inmates are grouped in the same cells.
Inadequacy of medical supplies worsens the situation; the
national government provides only two boxes of medicine, each
with 100 assorted pills, every month. Some of the pills that are
donated by NGOs are expired. Jail officers cannot do much about
this because the budget allocated for medical expenses is only
P106.64 for every inmate a year.
To maximize the use of medicines, health personnel prioritize
inmates whose conditions are already serious. Still, the required
prescription of 21 days of consecutive intake of medicines is rarely
followed. At most, inmates are given medicines for only seven
days. After that, inmates are encouraged to have water therapy
and pray that their condition does not worsen.
NGOs, the PRESO Foundation notably, augment the limited
capacity of the medical staff by conducting monthly medical
missions in the Jail. PRESO solicits assistance from medical
institutions like the Quezon City Health Department, Acebedo
Optical clinic, different pharmaceutical firms, and other private
companies. The mission, which caters to at least 200 inmates
every month, facilitates such services as minor surgery like cyst
removal operations, dental operations, eye check up, and distribution
of free eyeglasses.