NGO empowers Mangochi prisoners

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) on Saturday sensitised Mangochi prisoners to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR).

In an interview, the organisation’s project assistant Mathews Bowa said prisoners are among vulnerable people who have limited access to SRHR  messages and services, saying this is risky to their health.

“We came here to bring awareness that prisoners have rights just like everyone else. As such, we want them to request meeting healthcare providers when they have a health problem,” he said.

Bowa observed that many people go to prison while they have sexually transmitted infections and other diseases but they fail to speak out or get help which in turn affects their health.

“It is an infringement of prisoners’ rights for prison officials to deny them access to healthcare,” he said.

In his remarks, Mangochi Prison officer-in-charge Faison Olaman commended CHRR for the meeting, saying it will encourage prisoners to speak out.

CHRR is implementing a “Get up; Speak Out Project in the district to empower the youth to know SRHR issues.

The project is supported by Rutgers of the Netherlands.