SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – Forty (40) Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) in San Jose District Jail (SJDJ) received free medical and dental services in the recently held medical mission in the jail facility.

Spearheaded by the Seventh Day Adventist and the SJDJ, the activity provided medical consultations and medicines for the PDLs. District Jail Warden Bryan Rañada explained that there are several inmates who have medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes before detention, and are provided with maintenance medicine, when available, from their office in partnership with the Municipal Health Office. 

Tooth extractions were also provided during the activity. According to the Jail Warden, there are PDLs who had tooth decay prior to their detention which worsened over time as it is difficult to secure a court order allowing the inmates to have their teeth tended by dentists outside the jail facility.

Rañada added that the lack of hygiene kits for the PDLs, particularly toothpaste, eventually led to the inmates’ tooth decay.

“Kulang rin po sa hygiene kits ang ating mga PDL. Mayroon naman po silang sipilyo pero wala silang toothpaste kasi kulang ang suplay ng opisina (PDLs lack hygiene kits. They have toothbrushes, but do not have toothpaste because the supply from the office is not sufficient),” he explained.

The Jail Warden is tapping the private sectors for donations to mitigate the lack of hygiene kits and other basic necessities of the PDLs. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA)