The Munzenze central prison in Goma, in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing an alarming situation. More than 100 inmates there suffer from tuberculosis, according to Mwisha Ivette, the interim director of the prison. This situation is mainly due to overcrowding and precarious living conditions in this penitentiary establishment.
With an original capacity of only 350 inmates, Goma prison currently has nearly 3,500 residents. This overcrowding encourages the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. In addition to this, other inmates are also affected by neglected tropical diseases such as ringworm and scabies.
The director of Munzenze Central Prison expresses concern about the spread of the disease among prisoners. Currently, only a few people, whose families provide medical care, are treated in the Virunga Hospital buildings.
Tuberculosis is a very present disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In March 2022, the Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention, revealed that the country had the second highest prevalence rate of tuberculosis in Africa, with more than 216,000 cases for an estimated population of nearly 100,000. 000 inhabitants.
Faced with this emergency situation at Goma prison, the prison authorities are appealing to the Congolese government’s partners in the health field to provide a concrete response and protect prisoners from contagion caused by tuberculosis bacteria.
It is crucial that measures are taken quickly to improve living conditions in Munzenze Central Prison and to provide appropriate medical care to prisoners. We should not forget that these people also have fundamental rights, including the right to access adequate health care.
The situation in Goma prison highlights a broader issue regarding detention conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is imperative that the authorities take measures to address prison overcrowding and improve the living conditions of prisoners. The health of prisoners must be a priority and efforts must be made to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and ensure adequate access to medical care.