The doctor responsible for medical services at Goma's central prison (North Kivu), Marcelin Kamavu, sounded the alarm on Thursday, September 19, over the shortage of medicines and other equipment needed to care for sick inmates. He made the statement during an awareness-raising session on Ebola virus disease, organized by MONUSCO's support unit for prison administration at Munzenze prison.

"As of September 19, the prison medical staff is providing minimal service, because – given that healthcare for inmates is supposed to be free, it must be noted that inmate care has never been subsidized. And we do not have medicines at present," explained Dr. Marcelin Kamavu.

According to him, the socio-sanitary situation at Munzenze prison risks becoming more catastrophic than in previous months if nothing is done in the near term.

A clinician's tool, the doctor continued, "is his medical prescription, it is the medical treatment he gives to patients. When there is none, I do not see why one should remain on duty. We have sent distress calls to both national and provincial authorities, but there has been no real follow-up!"

Goma's central prison at Munzenze, designed for a capacity of 150 people, currently holds 2,530 inmates.