COVID-19 and the marginalized: an opinion piece on further measures to address COVID-19 in prisons in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Purpose This paper examines prison services and how they can be managed to uphold COVID-19 prevention etiquettes, in light of the contemporary rise in COVID-19 cases across the sub-Saharan Africa continent and the world at large. Design/methodology/approach An extensive review of existing literature on COVID-19 was conducted to ascertain the nature of the pandemic in prisons in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings In line with empirical observations, the paper recommends regular disinfection of prisons and correctional facilities on the sub-continent. Again, there is the need for countries to resort to alternative punitive measures other than imprisonment, to curb the issue of overcrowding in prisons. Furthermore, there is the need for national governments to build ultramodern prison facilities, which would make room for emergency situations, as well as make provision for any future rise in the number of inmates while, at the same time, meeting fundamental needs as peculiar to prisoners. Finally, medical units in prisons need to be well-equipped against contemporary rise in COVID-19 cases. Originality/value The authors hereby declare that this submission is their handmade which has not been submitted to any other journal outlet.

A multi-stakeholder situation assessment of COVID-19 disease preparedness and mitigation measures in a large prison complex in Malawi

“…Operationalisation of the response was compounded by an ad hoc reactive approach, lacking direction cognisant of future outbreaks and severely hampered by historical resource and infrastructural deficits (congestion, lack of ventilation, hygiene and sanitation). Similar findings have been reported elsewhere in the sub-Saharan African region in terms of the COVID-19 prison system response relating to insufficient provision of PPE, cell capacity issues inhibiting social distancing, segregation of remand detainees, medical quarantine and the overall monitoring of COVID-19 incidence (Van Hout, 2020c; Amnesty International, 2020a, 2020b; Muntingh, 2020; Chireh and Essien, 2020; Van Hout and Wessels, 2021; Katey et al , 2021; Mukenwa et al , 2021; Nweze et al , 2020). COVID-19 testing was not on demand and results were not timely.…”

“We sleep 10cm apart so there is no social distancing”: COVID-19 preparedness in a Zimbabwean prison complex

“…Compassionate or early release of detainees is a critical component of the COVID-19 response, alongside upholding the occupational health rights of those working in the prison environment and the fundamental human rights of those deprived of their liberty relating to mitigation of disease transmission and basic standards of detention. In support of calls for prison reform in the sub-Saharan African region (Muntingh, 2020; Katey et al , 2021; Van Hout and Wessels, 2021), COVID-19 may act as a leverage to improve overall criminal justice system functioning, prison accommodation and environmental health standards and, ultimately, enhance the conditions for those who live and work in Zimbabwean prisons to an acceptable level. The sufficient equipping of medical units and isolation accommodation in the Zimbabwean prison system is of paramount importance for future contagion containment.…”

“…The sufficient equipping of medical units and isolation accommodation in the Zimbabwean prison system is of paramount importance for future contagion containment. Equally important are the processes and capacity to ensure social distancing is achievable and that both staff and prisoners have sufficient PPE (Katey et al , 2021; Van Hout and Wessels, 2021). The continuation of traffic of remand detainees to and from court, the inability to maintain social distance on transport and the failure to screen intake at night provided a route to a serious spread of disease within prison confines.…”

Spatial targeting and prediction of factors responsible for optimum Covid-19 based social distancing – the case of Upper west region, Ghana

“…On the bases that the spatial, social and economic circumstances will jointly act to determine the effectiveness of social/physical distancing as appropriate strategy to reducing the spread of the Covid-19 (Durizzo et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020), most places in Ghana including Wa are experiencing implementation difficulties. Though a few number of studies have investigated the practicality of implementing social distancing in urban centres in Africa (Katey et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020), the focus has largely centred on social and economic dimensions with almost none-concentrating on the spatial and physical aspect. Typically most urban poor live in small parcels of lands -which favours overcrowding and transmission of contagious and communicable diseases (Adelekan, 2010;Baker, 2012;Delhi, 2003).…”