Four hundred inmates from Cabuyao City Jail in Laguna received hygiene kits from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Saturday, Sept. 24.
This initiative was in partnership with Unilever Philippines, said PRC.
Each kit contains soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, and detergent powder.
Also, 16 disinfection kits and 40 rigid 20-liter jerry cans for storing drinking water were distributed to the persons deprived of liberty (PDL), PRC added.
"We at PRC take these situations seriously. PDLs have the right to live with dignity. The Philippine Red Cross, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ensures the dignity of the PDLs; it is part of our Charter," said PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Gordon.
This was a follow-up aid for the 70 diarrhea-stricken PDLs in the city jail, as per PRC.
On Sept. 21, the organization sent a 10,000-liter water tanker to provide clean drinking water which benefited a total of 657 PDLs.
"In addition to providing water, PRC also sent 1,000 sachets of Oral Rehydration Solution (Oresol), 500 tablets of Metronidazole antibiotics, IV fluids and IV sets with needles, and two boxes of underpads for the PDLs in Cabuyao City Jail," PRC said.
According to PRC Laguna Administrator Frank Sorromero, the diarrhea outbreak among PDLs was suspected to be caused by contaminated water in water tanks brought by recent flooding in the city.