Around 600 cases of boil, scabies reported at BJMP-manned jails in Metro Manila
By Chito Chavez

An estimated 600 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the detention facilities manned by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Metro Manila are afflicted with boil, scabies and other skin ailments due to the prevailing extreme heat.
BJMP spokesperson Chief Inspector Jayrex Bustinera said appropriate respinse and measures are now being implemented to address the issue.
“As reported by chief (BJMP chief Director Ruel Rivera) there are 600 reported cases of scabies (galis) and pigsa (boil). Walang tigdas (measles), bungang araw (prickly heat rash) lang (There are no measles only prickly heat rash cases),’’ Bustinera stressed.
Bustinera pointed out that the number of boil and scabies cases are not expected to rise this year as the BJMP has religiously conducted decongestion schemes in its jail facilities.
He noted that the BJMP has continuously coordinated with the Department of Health (DOH) and the local government units (LGUs) to ensure the wellbeing of the PDLs.
Earlier, Rivera disclosed that the cases of similar skin diseases in the other BJMP regional jails in the country are “paisa isa’’ lang (very few.)
Aside from its DOH coordination, Rivera disclosed that the BJMP had requested the water concessionaires for the ample supply of water to enable the PDLs to take daily or even twice a day baths.
"And siyempre iyon pong paglalagay ng mga electric fans, iyong air shelf po na tinatayo. Iyong air shelf po, iyon po ‘yung nasa taas ng bubong kung makita ninyo umiikot po doon, kailangan po iyan (And of course having electric fans and the air shelf that was installed. That air shelf installed on top of the roof, if you can see it rotates in a circular motion, that is needed),’’ Rivera noted.
The BJMP chief explained that air only moves around the jail facilities when using electric fans but the air shelf brings hot air out of the premises.