Unhealthy prisoners are facing difficulty in receiving medical treatment due to a shortage of medicine in Sittwe prison in Arakan State, the people close to the prison.
Prison authorities have banned the medicines exported by family members of prisoners.
A political prisoner who was recently freed from the prison said: “Medicines available in the prison are not convenient. Prisoners have to take Burmenton alone when they are sick and suffer diarrhea. The prison authorities have banned the medicines sent by the families. Prisoners face a lot of difficulties. There is a shortage of medicine. Those who have chronic diseases find it difficult to receive medical treatment. I met a prisoner from Minbya. His physical appearance decreased when he was sick for two days. He died at the prison hospital.”
Due to a shortage of medicine in Sittwe prison, prisoners have to rely only on medicine for fever, he continued.
Some political prisoners from Sittwe prison are the elderly. They are not in good health as they got tortured during the arrest and interrogation.
“They can’t go anywhere as they are older. They are suffering from suffocation. Prison authorities have banned medicines from outside. The people in Arakan State are suffering various human rights violations. Prison authorities need to make arrangements for the medical treatment of prisoners.”
“U Maung Mae Kywat, 57, from Paletwa, who has been sentenced to three years in prison under Section 505 (a) is suffering from malnutrition and suffocation. He is not allowed to receive medical treatment at the private hospitals, even Sittwe Hospital as he is a political prisoner. I don’t know how the prison hospital is. Family members are worried as they don’t get contact with him. The prisoners who are imprisoned under other sections of the law can apply for bail and receive medical treatment,” he said.
Since the spread of Covid-19 in 2020, family visits have been banned in prisons in Arakan State.
The prison authorities have banned family visits although Arakan State sees a decline in Covid-19.
The ban on family visits is a violation of human rights. The family members of prisoners have called on the authorities to allow family visits.
Sent by Htay Htay Aung (Narinjara)