Isolating Tacloban inmates with communicable diseases remains unsolved
By RANULFO DOCDOCAN, ABS-CBN Tacloban | 11/10/2008 4:29 PM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
TACLOBAN CITY - The Tacloban City jail warden has asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to provide funds for the construction of a clinic and a cell to isolate 30 of its inmates diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease usually affecting the lungs. Symptoms of the disease include low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss and persistent cough.
Jail Inspector Manuel Chan, Tacloban City Jail Warden, said the 30 inmates were among the 60 who underwent a medical examination conducted by a private organization last August.
“But we cannot insulate them from the rest of the inmates due to lack of facilities,” Chan said.
The city jail, which has 27 cells and a total capacity of 150, has 695 inmates, according to Chan. “That is why, the disease could easily spread among our prisoners,” he added.
Chan said that he requested the regional office to provide a facility where the inmates suffering from ailments like tuberculosis could be confined.
“But we have yet to receive any action from our regional office on our request,” he said.
The Tacloban city jail has no isolation cell, which could be converted temporarily as a dispensary, according to Chan.
Jail personnel have been wearing masks to avoid getting the disease, he said.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in the region meanwhile said it is taking steps to solve this long-time problem of the Tacloban City Jail.
Jail Superintendent Edwin Riel, BJMP Region 8 assistant regional director, said that they are already coordinating with the national office to solve the problem of such facilities.
"But our plan will depend upon the National Government, if they will appropriate funds for this project," Riel added.
However, Riel said they are yet to finalize the plan since the city government of Tacloban is also planning to relocate the jail to the northern part of the city.
