Ethiopia: ICRC donates medical, non-medical items to 11 places of detention

Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs), consisting of 27, 550 surgical and respiratory masks, 17,600 gloves, close to 2,000 gowns, surgical caps and aprons, were among the items distributed to the prisons in August 2020.

"The donation is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the health system in prisons to provide standard services to COVID-19 detainee patients and non-COVID-19 detainees potentially neglected because of the coronavirus-induced crisis," remarked Apollo Kinyokie Barasa, the health unit coordinator with the ICRC.

The ICRC also supplied a large quantity of medical waste bins, hygienic items, disposable cups, wheelchairs, stretchers, examination couches and safety boxes.

''The ICRC is the first organization to respond to our needs which have significant importance in fighting the spread of the pandemic in our prison in general in providing treatment services to those infected by the virus in particular," said Commander Harun Abdurrahman, the health coordinator with a regional prison in Assosa town, Benishangul Gumuz region.

According to Apollo, part of the donation like hygienic items, clothes and mobility aids will be used by vulnerable detainees.

The supported prisons are located in Oromia, Amhara, Southern Ethiopia, Somali, Benishangul regions and Dire Dawa city administration, accommodating 14,753 detainees, benefited from the supplies.