The extreme heat and overcrowding pose health risks for persons deprived of liberty in the country's city jails, according to Maki Pulido's 24 Oras report on Wednesday.There are 700 persons deprived of liberty crammed inside one building in the Manila City Jail.The cells and kubol have been demolished so they lie next to each other on the floor every evening.And with the extreme heat, even an industrial fan is not enough to provide much-needed comfort.
Under these conditions, infections such as acute gastroenteritis, skin disease, heat rash, fungal infections and conjunctivitis are commonplace during hot climates.There is not exact number of cases but some PDLs have begun to be afflicted.In a related development, the BJMP on Wednesday said that PDLs in several jails have contracted sore eyes and pigsa or boils amid the scorching heat currently affecting the country.