6 infected with Chickenpox in Jaffna prison

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 April 2007, 03:20 GMT]
Due to lack of basic facilities, six youths placed in the protective custody of Jaffna prison, a private house with a capacity to hold less than 100 but packed with more than 200 inmates, have been infected with Chickenpox, according to Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) officials who visited the prison Wednesday.

More than 70 persons, fearing for their lives from Sri Lanka armed forces and the paramilitary members operating with them, had sought safety through HRC Jaffna office and had been placed in protective custody in Jaffna prison.

The prison, temporarily functioning in a private house built to accommodate small number of persons, is not equipped with adequate toilets and other essential facilities.

The danger of the infection spreading fast among the inmates may spiral out of control due to the seasonal high temperature.

Alternative arrangements have to be made to prevent such a dire situation, the officials added.

The HRC officials who spoke to the inmates in the prison individually, said that the problem needs immediate attention.

As the number of persons, seeking safety with the HRC increasing at an alarming rate, health hazard at the prison raises concern, civil society sources in Jaffna said.

Chronology: