Free x-ray for Cebu City Jail inmates

CEBU, Philippines - Starting this week all persons to be committed to the Cebu City Jail are mandated to undergo X-ray testing that will be shouldered by the Department of Health.

City Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, deputy mayor on health services, said she has received a letter from the DOH on this matter.

“It’s informing us that they will be utilizing Vicente Sotto (Memorial Medical Center) for the X-ray and they will not only get the physical examinations, apil na g’yud ang X-ray,” she told reporters.

De los Santos said it will be part of protocol to make a health profile of an inmate before he or she is committed to the jail.

She said it was agreed in the meeting attended by officials of DOH, the City Health Department, the Cebu City Medical Center, and the Cebu City Jail.

De los Santos said the complete health profiling of inmates is one way to prevent contamination in the jail.

City Jail Warden Arnel Peralta said there are 32 inmates who have tuberculosis in the jail. Of that number, 18 inmates have pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) 1, five inmates have PTB 2, eight inmates are under multi-drug resistance and one inmate is extremely drug resistant as of March 30.

“During the Holy Week vacation, we have fumigated the areas for the transfer of the inmates,” she said.

During the first week of this month, De los Santos led the inspection of the city jail following reports of the “very poor” health conditions of the inmates.

She believes that poor sanitation and incomplete health profiling are some reasons why health issues have surfaced.

“This week, another meeting will be held so that we can put everything in writing,” she said, adding that isolation cells will be prepared for inmates who have tuberculosis.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will ask Mayor Tomas Osmeña to convene the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, which the vice mayor used to lead as chairman.

By convening the PCAC, Labella said the city government can work with national and local agencies in addressing issues on peace and order of the city.

He recalled their previous meetings in the PCAC when they monitored inmates with health issues.

He said they did not only discuss health issues but also pending cases in court since the City Prosecutor’s Office is a member of the council. (FREEMAN)