58 Caloocan City inmates in pain with skin disorders

Masakit…makati (It is painful, it is itchy). This is how Roger Espineda describes how he feels as he suffers from a pus-filled skin disease that commonly spreads among prisoners in crowded jails in the Philippines during the dry season. Espineda is among the 58 inmates packed into a cramped space inside the Caloocan City jail in Metro Manila who are now enduring pain from a disease caused by the warm weather. Nagsimula Sabado, tuloy-tuloy na, ang laki na nga…ang taba na… (I had this disease on Saturday, until it got worse, they grew and got plump), Espineda told GMA News’ 24 Oras on Wednesday, telling how the reddish spots swelled and spread fast all over his body. 24 Oras said that while Espineda was treated in a hospital last Sunday, he would probably not be cured of his skin problem. After his confinement was refused by the hospital because his disease was contagious, Espineda went back to his congested prison quarters. Other inmates interviewed by 24 Oras described how boils, or pigsa in the vernacular, develop in their bodies. “Nag-uumpisa sa bungang araw, tapos (nagiging) taghiyawat, hanggang maging pigsa (They start to grow like prickly heat, then they grow like acnes until they become full-blown boils). A dermatologist interviewed by 24 Oras said the inmates should always bathe and also take antibiotics to prevent the worsening of skin infection caused by the build up of bacteria in the inflamed boils. While the city jail promised that it will provide inmates with medicine and additional electric fans, these won’t help much. A police officer interviewed by 24 Oras said congestion remains a big problem. He said many inmates should have long been transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which could provide bigger spaces for prisoners. However, he said the delay in the release of court orders have prevented inmates from immediately transferring to the BJMP. Meanwhile, 24 Orasreported that other inmates at the crowded and cluttered North Cotabato Provincial Jail were rushed to a hospital because of tuberculosis and diabetes. The report said other inmates in the area are also suffering from swollen feet. - GMANews.TV