Very few prisons test newly admitted prisoners for contagious and communicable diseases such as tuberculosis or Aids, according to the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons’s 2006/7 annual report.
This is despite the law clearly setting out the obligations of the prison authorities in this regard, says the document, tabled at Parliament on Tuesday.
Such obligations include a prisoner’s ”right to undergo a health-status examination, which must include testing for contagious and communicable diseases”.
”Sadly, very few prisons comply with these provisions … Non-compliance with particularly the health-status examination has far-reaching consequences.”
The document also strongly criticises strip searches carried out on newly admitted prisoners.
”These people, many first-time offenders, are ordered to undress in groups until they are naked. With clothes in hands and in clear sight of all onlookers, they must then squat (crouch with the hamstring resting on the backs of the heels) while opening their mouths and sticking out their tongues.
”Correctional officials explained that this is standing practice to ensure that no contraband is smuggled into prisons,” the report said.
Briefing MPs at a meeting of Parliament’s correctional services portfolio committee on Tuesday, an inspectorate official described this as a ”particularly undignified procedure”. — Sapa