Believing that people in reformatory institutions should be equally given attention, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) distributed hygiene kits to hundreds of inmates at the Correctional Institute for Women.
PRC, in a statement issued Tuesday, July 13, said that a total of 600 inmates at the Correctional Institute for Women were given supplies.
This was made possible after Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) Coordinator Fatima Buen requested hygiene kits to protect them from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and other diseases.
Buen, who has been living inside the correctional facility for 28 years herself, knew first-hand the struggles her co-inmates are experiencing every day.
With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the country, Buen recognized the need for proper hygiene and sanitation among her co-inmates. This has prompted her to seek assistance from PRC which has already partnered with the facility last year in giving hygiene kits.
Through the leadership of PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon and Secretary-General Elizabeth Zavalla, the PRC immediately responded to Buen’s request and arranged the hygiene kits for distribution to the PDLs.
PRC said that the hygiene kits that were distributed to the female inmates contained bath and laundry soap, shampoo, face towels, toothbrush and toothpaste, sanitary pads, and comb.
Meanwhile, Gordon strongly emphasized that those people in the reformatory institution should be equally given proper medical and hygiene care.
“Laging handang tumulong ang Philippine Red Cross sa lahat ng nangangailangan (The Philippine Red Cross is always ready to help everyone in need),” Gordon said.
“Kaagad tayong nagpadala ng mga hygiene kits sa Correctional Institute for Women matapos nila humingi ng tulong upang mapanatili ang good hygiene sa loob ng correctional institute (We immediately sent hygiene kits to the Correctional Institute for Women after they asked for help to maintain good hygiene within the correctional institute),” he added.