Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=125&art_id=vn20100902064136556C488796
Prison Aids/TB death toll a concern
Kerry Cullinan
September 02 2010 at 08:37AM G
Severe overcrowding in KwaZulu-Natal's prisons was contributing to the spread of HIV and tuberculosis and driving the high death toll in prisons, King Kumalo, the provincial deputy director of health services in the Correctional Services Department, said on Wednesday.
"Our prisons are 140 percent full. In a cell supposed to hold 20 inmates, you might find up to 80 inmates," he told the annual meeting of the Hospice Palliative Care Association.
So far this year, 120 prisoners have died of "natural causes" (diseases) and eight of unnatural causes in KZN.
"When I started in the department, we used to have more unnatural deaths such as murder and suicide than natural deaths," said King.
Last year, 168 prisoners died of natural and 14 of unnatural causes.
As a result of the high death toll, the department has brought in hospice workers to help it treat people with advanced diseases who were in need of pain relief...
Prison Aids/TB death toll a concern
Kerry Cullinan
September 02 2010 at 08:37AM G
Severe overcrowding in KwaZulu-Natal's prisons was contributing to the spread of HIV and tuberculosis and driving the high death toll in prisons, King Kumalo, the provincial deputy director of health services in the Correctional Services Department, said on Wednesday.
"Our prisons are 140 percent full. In a cell supposed to hold 20 inmates, you might find up to 80 inmates," he told the annual meeting of the Hospice Palliative Care Association.
So far this year, 120 prisoners have died of "natural causes" (diseases) and eight of unnatural causes in KZN.
"When I started in the department, we used to have more unnatural deaths such as murder and suicide than natural deaths," said King.
Last year, 168 prisoners died of natural and 14 of unnatural causes.
As a result of the high death toll, the department has brought in hospice workers to help it treat people with advanced diseases who were in need of pain relief...