Jail Bureau Holds Medical Missions For Prisoners

A doctor examines a prisoner while Chief Supt. Antonio Cruz (center), head of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, supervises a medical mission in the National Capital Region. (Belsie Agustin)

MANILA (Belsie Agustin / 02 Aug) The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) launched its medical and dental missions in the different jails in the National Capital Region and Antipolo City Jail as part of a continuing health program for prisoners, officials said.

Chief Superintendent Antonio Cruz, BJMP chief, said the program was in partnership with the private Give a Life Charity Foundation, Inc. and held at the weekend.

“Hundreds of prisoners benefited from the medical mission,” he told the Zamboanga Journal.

Many inmates at the Antipolo City Jail were suffering from skin diseases because of overcrowding and poor hygiene. Other inmates were also malnourished and had flu and diarrhea.

Cruz, who spearheaded the project, said the BJMP will conduct more medical mission to serve other jails. “We understand the plight and condition of the inmates and we will make it sure that these problems would be addressed to immediately,” he said.

He said the medical mission is a yearlong activity and targeted 24 jails in the National Capital Region.

Cruz said the medical mission was being supported by local government officials, civic and other non-governmental organizations. He urged regional jail officials to also conduct medical mission in their areas.