Foul odor from facility, too: Cebu City Jail inmates got contagious diseases

CEBU, Philippines - An “alarming” number of inmates at the Cebu City Jail are suffering from various diseases it prompted the facility to seek help from the city government.

In a press conference yesterday, City Councilor David Tumulak jail officials came asking for assistance after noting a record number of prisoners afflicted with diseases, including the highly communicable tuberculosis and conjunctivitis.

He said that according to the list sent to him, for the month of August alone, 50 inmates contracted upper respiratory tract infection (tonsillitis, sinusitis, among others); 35 have scabies; 30, hypertension; 25, arthritis; 25, tuberculosis; 24, pulmonary tuberculosis; 24, conjunctivitis; 20, acute gastro-enteritis; 20, acute bloody diarrhea; 12, hypotension; 10, acute viral hepatitis; 10, asthma; among others.

There also at least15 inmates diagnosed with psychotic disorder and may be dangerous if they continue to mingle with the rest of the inmates while they are those with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Other diseases are migraine, tension-type headache, vertigo, hematoma, allergic rhinitis, urinary tract infection, urinary incontinence, diabetes mellitus, and fungal infection.

“Nangayo sila (City Jail) og support tungod aning mga sakita. Nakig-alayon pud ta sa City Health Department para sa medicines kay bisan og they are prisoners, they also have the right nga mahatagan og health services,” Tumulak said of the inmates.

He said the sick inmates were separated from the other so that they will not transmit the disease to the other inmates.

“Alarming ning sakit kay only months of August. Mas mograbe pa gyud na ini’g balik sa El Niño karon. Sa sulod na-acquire ning mga sakit kay tungod pud sa sanitary (concern) and kinahanglan pud gyud og proper hygiene,” he said.

Tumulak said CHD vowed to deliver the medicines for the inmates on Monday.

Meanwhile, residents living near the City Jail are reportedly complaining of the foul odor emanating from an out-of-order septic tank of the facility.

“Laing reklamo kay ang waste sa City Jail nga nigawas na. Naa sa dalan. Temporarily, atong na-pump na Thursday afternoon,” Tumulak said.

He said a city disaster team borrowed a suction pump from City Hall’s Department of Public Services to temporarily address the problem.

“Nahabwa ang uban human waste. For permanent solution, mo-support ang city og tukod og bag-ong septic tank para walay mogawas na,” Tumulak said.  (FREEMAN)