As Malawi continues to register cases of conjunctivitis, also called pink eye disease, reports reaching us indicate the condition has broken walls of three prisons.
A source who is privy to the issue confided in us that Mangochi, Karonga and Maula prisons have registered cases of pink eye, which experts say is self-limited.
Mchinji District Hospital also recently announced that it had registered cases among inmates who were in custody at the district’s police station.
In such spaces of confinement, where ventilation and sanitation and hygiene are big challenges, the risk of the disease spreading further is high.
Our source said Maula Prison had registered 1,048 cases among prisoners and six among staff members and their dependents while Mangochi has registered at least 100 cases, with Karonga standing at 45 cases.
The source further disclosed that last week, 17 samples were collected from patients at Maula Prison and that all of them returned with positive diagnoses for the viral infection.
They said some of the affected prisoners and staff have now recovered.
Malawi Prisons Service spokesperson Chimwemwe Shaba asked for more time before he could respond to our enquiry on the developments.
Meanwhile, Executive Director for Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance, Victor Mhango has urged Ministry of Health and prison authorities to address the outbreak in correctional facilities.
Mhango says this can be possible through proper treatment and education on hygiene and sanitation measures to protect the health and well-being of inmates and staff.
“Access to clean towels, tissues and disinfectants can aid in maintaining hygiene standards and reducing the risk of further outbreaks.
“Prisons are prone to such diseases mainly because of congestion. We are calling on stakeholders that helped during the Covid pandemic to do the same with pink eye disease,” he said.
Signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis include pink or red colour in the white part of the eye, swelling of the eye lining, increased tear production, itching, eye discharge, painful eye and visual disturbance.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says conjunctivitis usually clears up in seven to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences.