Prisoners’ health

The deplorable situations that prisoners are stored in our jails has lengthy had an opposed affect on their well being as a result of speedy switch of communicable illnesses amongst them. The Punjab authorities has now lastly arisen from their deep slumber and initiated the medical screening of round 55,000 prisoners in Adiala Jail. Following this, the plan is to increase the identical to different 43 jails throughout the province in a bid to cease the unfold of harmful illnesses.

Prisoners shall be examined for Aids, hepatitis, TB, diabetes and blood strain, and also will be given related therapy and vaccination in case of any analysis. Whereas this can be a step in the appropriate route, there’s a lengthy strategy to go as a way to revamp the jail system throughout the province. This alone would possibly assist these at present affected by well being points however is not at all a correct resolution. Officers should once more be reminded that such remedial measures are merely non permanent fixes. What’s as an alternative wanted is a change within the general system. This implies mainstreaming prisoners’ rights, rebuilding dilapidated infrastructure, making certain correct vitamin and offering primary sanitary gear. All this should be carried out to enhance the standard of life for prisoners as a way to uphold human dignity and forestall the transmission of dangerous illnesses. One-time therapy shall be much less efficient and an inflow of prisoners would possibly deliver in additional illnesses. Due to this fact, it’s also advisable to arrange a screening system for brand new prisoners as a way to confirm beforehand in the event that they endure from any illness.

That is certainly a laborious process however one which the federal government should transfer ahead with as prisons stay overcrowded and in a shambles — that means a excessive change of illness transmission. Separate consideration should be given to senior residents and females as they could require specialised care.

Printed in The Categorical Tribune, March 16^th, 2023.

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