Abstract:
his study evaluated impacts of water shortages at Chichiri and Bvumbwe Prisons on human health of inmates in relation to sanitation and hygiene at Chichiri and Bvumbwe Prisons in Blantyre and in Thyolo Districts, respectively .Sources of water supply at the prison site were assessed in terms of the quality of water. Water drawn from taps at the two prisons is good for domestic consumption. However, the same is not true of water collected from the borehole and the shallow well at Chichiri Prison. Water samples collected from the two water points contained Escherichia Coli (E. coli) way above the 0/100ml limit, rendering the water unacceptable for domestic use as per WHO Standards of 0/100 ml E. coli. In contrast, water samples collected from taps and the borehole at Bvumbwe Prison were both of good quality. Increasing in number of inmates incarcerated at the two prisons is one of the contributing factors to water shortages; frequent electricity blackouts also cause water shortages as they affect the delivery of potable water from the pipe reticulation system, forcing inmates to use unsafe water from the borehole and shallow well at Chichiri Prison for domestic Consumption. It is recommended that the borehole and the shallow well at Chichiri Prison should be rehabilitated in order to enhance yield and thereby improving the quantity and quality of the water.
Cases of water related diseases is declining as attested by a reduction of cases of diarrhoea recorded at Chichiri Prison, where numbers of inmates affected by the disease dropped from 136 in January 2016 to 55 same year, against the average population of 2004 inmates. Bvumbwe Prison registered 29 cases of diarrhoea in January 2016, dropping down to 17 in December 2016, against the average population of 250 inmates. 33% of the ailments reported at Chichiri Prison and 15% at Bvumbwe Prison were related to water, with nearly zero cases of cholera reported at the two facilities.
The study also established some challenges regarding the state of sanitation facilities at the two prisons. For example, it was noted that Top Yard Cell at Chichiri Prison does not have designated toilets, forcing inmates to empty faecal matter on a daily basis in buckets to cells which have such facilities. This poses a serious health hazard and a sanitation crisis to inmates in that it can easily trigger an outbreak of diseases such as cholera.
Description:
The study evaluates the impact of water shortages on inmate health at Chichiri and Bvumbwe Prisons in Malawi. It found unsafe water quality at Chichiri Prison due to high E. coli levels, while water at Bvumbwe Prison was acceptable. Increasing inmate numbers and frequent power outages exacerbated water issues. Despite some improvements in water-related disease rates, sanitation challenges persist, particularly at Chichiri Prison, where inadequate toilet facilities pose serious health risks. The study recommends rehabilitating water sources and improving sanitation.
