Free meds for ‘non-VIPs’ in Manila jail

More than 3,000 inmates at the Manila City Jail availed themselves on Thursday of the free medicine and health services provided by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in line with its legal, medical and dental jail visitation, and decongestion program.

Jail warden Supt. Maria Lorentina Manengyao said that the medical and dental mission, as well as free medicine, were very much welcome as several inmates were suffering from tuberculosis although she did not give a figure.

She said that they were concerned about the spread of the disease if those infected were not immediately diagnosed and given proper treatment.

The medical mission was spearheaded by PAO chief Persida Acosta who was accompanied by 30 lawyers, PAO staffers, and doctors from the National Bureau of Investigation, Quezon City government and PAO Forensic Laboratory. The team attended to 2,914 male inmates and 515 women prisoners as the lawyers provided free legal advice to those interested.

“Because of the free services offered by PAO, we don’t have to bring the inmates out to have their teeth extracted or undergo other health checks,” Manengyao said, adding that the infirmary could attend to just a limited number of patients.

According to her, a lot of the detainees are in need of vitamins and cough medicine because of the spread of the flu virus due to the weather and congestion at the facility.

The inmates stay inside a room in groups numbering between 40 and 50, a figure which Manengyao said was smaller compared to previous years. The rooms which are called “static” are equipped with the necessary facilities, including a toilet.

The medical and dental mission, according to Acosta, was aimed at providing free health checkups, medicines, other health services and legal counseling to inmates in various jails and detention centers nationwide.

The program also seeks to decongest overcrowded correctional facilities and work for the release of inmates who had served their maximum prison sentence in line with President Aquino’s order to “provide justice for all.” Maricar Brizuela and Jacqueline Arias