Reference :
V-P-PH-E-01068
Date :
11/03/2020
Caption :
Manila. Portrait of a detainee who was cured of tuberculosis at the Calamba infirmary. Tuberculosis has been present for many years in detention facilities in the Philippines, where the conditions are favorable to the spread of the disease. Lessons learned from fighting tuberculosis help in dealing with the pandemic of COVID-19 affecting detention facilities.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
ICRC website, article, 24.03.2020, extract
COVID-19: Lessons from Philippines jails show how to fight infectious coronavirus disease
As COVID-19 focuses the world’s attention on infectious diseases, we have our eyes on one of the most dangerous places for the spread of such outbreaks: prisons, where densely packed people and (often) limited access to health care make for a risky situation.
Overcrowding, poor ventilation and infrastructures, deficient health, hygiene and sanitation conditions favours the spread of infectious diseases – whether the novel coronavirus COVID-19 or tuberculosis (TB) which can rapidly affect a large number of people inside detention facilities. While COVID-19 is caused by a virus and TB by bacteria, both may have devastating effects on vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases.
TB, for example, is known to be 100 times more prevalent in detention facilities than in the community. And based on the World Prison Brief database, the Philippines was ranked highest in the world in jail occupancy rate in their latest report. As of 19 March 2020, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the congestion rate in their 467 jails is at 534 per cent.
Overcrowding has been a challenge for many years inside Philippines jails. (…)
"I first had TB in 2003. I took my medicines for only three months. I did not finish the treatment because I already felt better. I found out I had TB again when I was detained in 2015. They gave me injections for two months then tablets in the next seven months. At first, it was okay but later on I could barely walk. I forced myself to survive the treatment. The BJMP staff really helped. They pursued immediate treatment for me and other detainees who showed symptoms of TB. I have a child and I want to be with him again. He keeps me motivated. I've been praying to God to heal me. I tell myself to hang on a little more and I will be free soon. I really hope I can overcome this." - "Joey," 44-year-old inmate who was cured of TB at the Calamba infirmary. (...)
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
4781x3194
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
