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TANINTHARYI DIVISION- According to the family members of the prisoners, almost all the male prisoners are suffering from skin infections and scabies, more severe in this hot and humid weather.
” I have skin infections all over the body even my two hands are not enough for scratching. My family send me various lotions and drugs but it doesn’t go away. How can something like scabies infection be cured when we are re-infected from the other inmates by close (skin) contact?” retold a family member of a prisoner from Dawei Prison.
The Dawei Prison has a capacity of 800 prisoners but the current numbers of inmates are over 1100. Therefore, over 60 prisoners are packed in a room made for 40, and over 100 inmates stay in a room with a capacity of 90. It was reported that the prisoners are packed as much as their feets overlapping during sleep.
“This scabies infection could spread from one another with such close contact and hot humid weather. If the infection is not treated properly, secondary bacteria infection may occur with possible sepsis and life-threatening condition in susceptible persons. Not everyone would have the serious condition but if scabies or skin infection is wet, i.e.producing discharge, secondary bacteria infection is more likely to follow,” explained a local doctor whose name is not given due to security reasons.
Currently, the prison clinic is giving out ointment and medicine but the symptoms are not relieved, as retold by the prisoners’ families.
“Without sanitation (clean bed sheets and proper bed spacing)and clean water for use, skin infections and scabies infection could be worsen,” stated the local doctor.
Dawei Prison has limited water usage where prisoners can shower in a limited time with a specified plastic measuring cup.
There are reportedly around 350 political detainees in Dawei Prison after the coup.