By CHITO CHAVEZ
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) vowed to push for more viable options to help address the health woes of inmates this dry spell.
BJMP spokesman Senior Inspector Xavier Solda made the assurance as the BJMP has undertaken measures to combat the top 10 diseases afflicting the inmates during the summer months.
The BJMP has a total of 145,476 inmates all over the country with a congestion rate of 601.91 percent, making all of them prone to the so-called summer illnesses.
Topping the list of diseases is the upper respiratory tract infection with 12,700 cases followed by hypertension which affects 9,651 inmates.
Other common diseases inside the BJMP manned jails include allergic rhinitis (4,197), influenza (4,550), abscess (3,677); irritant contact dermatitis (2,820); scabies (2,633); acute gastro enteritis (1,595); asthma/bronchial asthma (1,241) and heat rash (1,090).
BJMP Chief Director Deogracias Tapayan has already prepared as early as December last year the procurement of all the required medicines as the agency continues to address usual problem of water supply and ventilation.
At present, all wardens are in constant coordination with water suppliers like the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in cases falling under the National Capital Region.
Solda cited the importance of water in every facility in this hot season to prevent any untoward incidents.
In previous cases, bloody riots among gangs were attributed to the humid situation triggered by cases of water interruptions and lack of ventilation especially in crowded jails.
Solda said the BJMP has regularly checked the waterlines and is in constant coordination with the water suppliers to ease the water shortage woes in the jail facilities.
With the government’s intensified war against all forms of crime particularly illegal drugs, possibilities of more inmates landing in BJMP facilities are high.
