Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo today cited the Quezon City Jail for its efforts to prevent the spread of tuberculosis among inmates with the inauguration of a new infirmary and isolation ward for inmates inflicted with tuberculosis in the annex building of the city jail.

Robredo also acknowledged the support of the International Community of the Red Cross (ICRC) that helped finance the construction of the 60-bed capacity TB ward in the uppermost floor of the jail’s annex building.

“This is what we want to have in each and every jail in the country, because while we undertake initiatives to rehabilitate our inmates, we should also focus on their health needs,” said Robredo.

In a simple ceremony late last week, Pascal Mauchle, ICRC Head of Delegation turned over to Quezon City Warden Joseph T. Vela the infirmary and isolation ward.

Vela said the five-room infirmary, which was constructed last December 201, is intended for TB patients under category 4, 2 and 1. Each patient will be provided with a bed, personal closet and a patient seat. Every cell also provided with a comfort room. lavatory, blower and 2 Ultra Violet (UV) lights to sanitize the air.

The QC Jail infirmary, which is the first in BJMP controlled jails, has a medical office intended for the personnel and nurse who will take care of the patients in the infirmary. It is equipped medicine cabinets, comfort room, lavatory, refrigerator for medicines, water dispenser, executive chairs, push cart for medicines and UV lights to protect personnel from being contaminated with the PTB bacilli.

“With the construction of the infirmary and the sputum laboratory, Quezon City jail is now capable of identifying and treating inmates found to be infected with PTB,” Vela said.

Also present during the turn-over ceremony are BJMP-NCR Director S/Supt. Romeo Vio and Officer-in-Charge C/Supt. Diony Mamaril, and World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office Medical Officer Dr. Katsunori Osuga.

Presently, QC jail, with a jail population of 2,800 inmates, had already identified 144 inmates inflicted with TB.

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