By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The eastern region commander for the Sierra Leone Correctional Center, John Nabie Pessima, has said they have put measures in place to tackle any outbreak in the Kenema Correctional center weeks before the first confirmed case of Covid-19 was recorded in the country.
Mr Pessima on Tuesday told Politico that they have been practicing isolation and social distancing for inmates as part of these measures.
His assurance comes a day after the central prison in Freetown confirmed its first case of COVID-19.
Pessima said in Kenema they had been testing the temperature of new inmates and keeping tabs on them for days, whiles they are in isolation.
"We have two cells inside the correctional center, one cell is meant for observation for eight days period and after eight days, inmates will be transferred into the second cell for nine to 14 days if they don’t show any sign of illness” he said.
The Kenema prison authorities say they have 350 prisoners. Although they say they have managed to maintain social distancing given the prevailing circumstances, they admitted that congestion is a major concern.
And this is of particular concern to Human Rights activist, Sylvester Kallon, who is based in the district.
“Congestions is still a burning issue,” Kallon tpld Politico.
But Pessima insisted that they have reduced the number of inmates in a cell to abide to the COVID-19 regulations.
The regional prison boss said the measures don’t just include prisoners. He said Correctional Service staffers were also being closely monitored, with sick staff ordered to stay at home till they recover.
The precautionary measures at the Kenema Correctional Center also include wearing of face masks.
“We have made it a compulsory for all officers that everybody should wear facemask during duties and out of the work places. Plans are also on the way to get mask for all the inmates,” Pessima said.
But whiles preparation has been solid in Kenema, there are other challenges in prisons in Kailahun, for example.
Pessima said they have had to deal with the problem of congestion and mobility for prisoners to be moved to court and back to their cells.
"Inmates walk on foot to court, which is a high risk for the staff, especially for hard core criminals under detention" he said.
He added that Kailahun prisons didn’t have any hand washing facility to prevent against the virus, despite promises by government and aid organizations.
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