MARTHA PAYNTER: Prisons petri dishes for coronavirus
“As I diligently stock up this week on Tylenol, hand sanitizer and granola bars in anticipation of a possible COVID-19 shutdown, I am thinking: “What about people in prison?” They have no autonomy over their access to medication and food. They are not allowed hand sanitizers. And they are already managing multiple comorbidities including respiratory illness, blood-borne infection, head injury and depression. Who is thinking of them and preparing for their care?
As a nurse who works to advance the health of prisoners in this province, I am worried.
Prisons are petri dishes. Hundreds of people are under one roof with poor ventilation, barriers to health services, substandard nutrition, limited participation in exercise and time outdoors and inadequate information provision. The No. 1 demand of the Burnside prison strikers last year was improved health care, but air quality, physical activity, food and library access all made the 10-point list.
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