Tuberculosis can cause serious effect on prisoners health

By failing to adequately treat TB patients in Jau prison, Bahrain has breached human rights and the right to health, according to Amnesty International.

For nearly a week, at least two inmates with TB symptoms were left untreated. A third prisoner was freed from the hospital two days after he was admitted for tuberculosis treatment. Concerned family members of inmates have expressed their displeasure at the lack of measures taken to protect other inmates against airborne sickness. It wasn't until he was practically paralyzed by tuberculosis that the fourth patient was transported to the hospital.

According to concerned authorities, Bahrain has taken too long to respond to the recent development of TB in the jail population. Jail officials, according to Amna Guellali, deputy director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa regional office, delayed for much longer than necessary before acting.

Bahraini officials must act rapidly to treat sick convicts. People with symptoms of tuberculosis can be tested for the disease to stop it from spreading. The authorities should hold those responsible for delays in healthcare accountable.

Ahmed Jaber was diagnosed with tuberculosis during his time in prison. His illness began in April of 2021 and by December of that year, Ahmed couldn't even walk or clothe himself.

Despite this, jail officials did not admit Ahmed Jaber to the hospital until March 2022. The patient's neck vertebrae have been damaged, thus he has to wear a vest for protection.

Sickle cell anemia sufferer Hasan Abdulla Bati was recently diagnosed with TB. But jail officials rejected to arrange up a procedure even though he'd had swollen lymph nodes since 2019. On May 30th, 2022, he was hospitalized to Salmaniya Hospital due to sickle-cell anemia and diagnosed with tuberculosis.

He was returned to prison a day later and placed in an eight-person cell by Bahraini authorities, who had previously released him. They still take him to visit his family when he is in prison. His medical needs were ignored by the prison administration, Hasan Bati revealed the sorry state of his condition in a taped confession to Bahraini human rights lawyer Sayed Ahmed al-Wadaei.

It has been more than a year since Sayed Nizar al-Wadaei first began to exhibit symptoms consistent with tuberculosis. Prison officers immediately isolated him from the outside world and other detainees after discovering that he had a serious medical condition. On June 6, 2022, his family requested that Bahraini authorities conduct tests. Sayed Nizar and his family have been denied access to any additional treatment.

Amnesty International has uncovered that Ahmed Jaber, who was unwell, was transported between cells in at least seven sites at Jau prison, according to the organization. The number now stands at eight inmates, including Hasan Bati.

According to international human rights norms, health treatment for prisoners must be provided free of charge. Part of this strategy includes transferring convicts to community or specialist hospitals for treatment that cannot be provided on-site.