BJMP records 600 PDLs with boils amid severe heat

Around 600 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) were found to have boils or “pigsa” amid the severe heat also being endured in jail facilities, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said Sunday.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Inspector Jayrex Bustinera said they are primarily monitoring the skin diseases that develop and spread among PDLs during this seasonal hot weather, followed by hypertension and gastroenteritis.

“Ngayon, meron tayong recorded cases base sa sinabi ng aming chief, may na-monitor na kaming 600 cases ng boils… Ganun din, may pailan ilang kaso tayo ng bungang araw, at madalas ngayon ang hypertension,” he said.

(We have now montired 600 cases of boil. We have also recorded a few cases of heat rash. Hypertension is also pretty common.)

The extreme heat and overcrowding pose health risks for PDLs in the country's city jails.

Last year, Bustinera said the largest number of cases they recorded among PDLs was gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu. Next was boils, heat rash, fungal infection, and conjunctivitis or pink eye.

This is why he said that they encourage PDLs to take daily baths and to drink plenty of water. Visitors of PDLs are also only allowed to bring cooked food to avoid food spoilage.

All 482 BJMP facilities have nurses that are on duty 24/7, he added.

“Meron tayong sapat na gamot para diyan. Meron na rin po tayong budget para sa mga PDLs pagdating sa gamot kaya lang, hindi ito ganoon karami. Kaya ang isang strategy namin sa bawat lokalidad ay nakikipag ugnayan sa mga health department ng LGU nang sa ganoon ay ma-augment din ang resources namin sa mga gamot,” Bustinera said.

(We have enough medicine for them. We now have a budget for the medication of PDLs but it's not that much. So one of our strategies is to coordinate with the health departments of local government units so we can also augment our resources when it comes to medicines.)

Currently, Bustinera said the BJMP has a 334% congestion rate. This was a decrease from the 370% congestion rate last year, and the 600% congestion rate in 2018.

Only 156 jails nationwide have no congestion of PDLs, he said, adding that they are striving to have more facilities built in order to decongest jails in the country.—Giselle Ombay/RF, GMA Integrated News