The first mass jail facility scabies treatment in the Philippines has been intensified further to provide the persons deprived of liberty (PDL) with comfort and protection against skin-borne diseases, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-National capital Region (BJMP-NCR) said on Monday, March 17.
In an exclusive interview, BJMP-NCR Director Chief Supt. Clint Russel A. Tangeres said the scabies treatment is being done by the agency's nurses and medical staff trained by the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), while the medicine and other medical necessities were provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Under the system, Tangeres pointed out that each PDL unit is subjected to the stringent medical treatment procedure.
Further, Tangeres said the ‘conscientious’ scabies medical care requires the cleaning of the cells and putting the PDLs’ clothes, bed sheets, pillows and mattresses in a separate area, which will be up for laundry.
Newly arrived PDLs are also placed in a holding area and disinfected to prevent them as a precautionary measure to prevent them from being stricken with scabies.
Being a pioneer of the mass scabies treatment of the BJMP jails, Tangeres said the Department of Health (DOH) requested to be observers during the PDL scabies treatment in a bid to replicate the move in the other jail facilities in other parts of the country.
Currently, over 4,000 PDLs in the Quezon City Jail are infected with skin diseases followed closely by the PDls at the Manila City Jail with 3,500.
Earlier, the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory (QCJMD) asserted that it does not collect any charges for any form of services the facility provides for its PDLs.
QCJMD warden Supt. Warren M. Geronimo warned the public that scammers claiming to be BJMP personnel using the Facebook Account name ‘Dalaw Jail (Jail Visit)’ demand payment to ensure that appropriate services like medical treatment are provided to the PDLs.
“Kung mayroong tatawag sa inyo o magpapadala ng mensahe gamit ang pangalan ng QCJMD upang manghingi ng pera o pabor, nakatitiyak kayo na ito ay isang scam (If anybody contacts you or send messages using the QCJMD name asking for money or favors, this is a scam for sure),’’ Geronimo stressed.
The BJMP has reiterated that appropriate measures like medical interventions and decongestion efforts are being undertaken free of charge to make the living conditions of the PDLs ‘less uncomfortable.’
With the measures in place, BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Bustinera noted that the initiatives help prevent the rise in the number of skin infectious diseases and other ailments in its jail facilities.
In ensuring the well-being of the PDLs, Bustinera cited the ICRC and the Quezon City government for supporting the BJMP’s health and wellness cause with the conduct of the “mass treatment program’’ for the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory PDLs suffering from skin infectious diseases.
Citing the importance of the activity, the BJMP thanked the ICRC for providing the necessary medicines and medical supplies in the treatment of the infectious diseases of the PDLs.
The BJMP explained that skin ailments like scabies are prevalent in the jail facilities since infectious skin diseases spread easily in tight-faced areas like cages.
Upon the recommendation of the “Scabies Prevalence Survey,’’ the BJMP said “the initiative also includes the disinfection of tools and facilities within the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory.’’
Previously, the BJMP revealed that the DOH and the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) survey stressed the need for immediate medical intervention to address the growing cases of scabies among PDL.
In the recent medical intervention activity, the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory said that all cells and tools were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with the PDLs also treated with benzyl benzoate lotion, which was applied to the entire body.
“There were also info sessions for PDL to better understand scabies: its symptoms, and how to treat and prevent it,’’ the QCJMD said.
“By making the right policies and response, we can prevent and contain scabies in jails. So, we can preserve the dignity and humane treatment of PDL,’’ the BJMP continued.