Antananarivo (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in cooperation with Madagascar’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health, is organizing a dental health day at Tsiafahy maximum security prison, located 40 km away from the capital Antananarivo.
“Dental health problems are very common in detention facilities because prisoners have poor dental hygiene,” explained the ICRC’s medical expert based in Antananarivo.
On this particular day, 10 dentists will be providing dental services to prisoners free of charge and performing tooth extractions in particular. The prison’s medical staff compiled a list, in advance, of 65 detainees who have been complaining of dental problems.
Inmates at the Antanimora prison in Antananarivo also received similar dental care in June.
The ICRC has been present in Madagascar for over 20 years, where it works primarily in detention facilities. In 2014, it visited more than 13,500 detainees and carried out repairs and upgrades (to kitchens, toilet facilities, storerooms, and water and sanitation systems) at six prisons. It also ran nutrition programmes in 18 prisons and campaigns to rid eight facilities of insects. Lastly, it provided support to court liaison services in 10 prisons and organized many awareness-raising sessions with prison staff on the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.
For further information, please contact:
Narindra Rakotonanahary, ICRC Antananarivo, tel: +261 33 37 303 30
