Prison health care and nutrition
International staff: 6
National staff: 30
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In the Ivory Coast, MSF has continued to focus on conditions
and basic health care in Abidjan's largest prison, the
Maison d'Arrêt et de Correction d'Abidjan.
In June 2001, MSF denounced the detention conditions
in a juvenile observation unit, submitting a report showing
that 60% of the health problems experienced by the
under-age detainees were due to excessive confinement. Two
significant responses have been the ending of constant
cell confinement for minors and a reduction in the number
of them detained (down from an average of 150 to 60
in six months). MSF has also initiated a social work program
to re-establish family links for some minors as a further way
to reduce detention times.
For adult detainees, MSF has continued its nutritional
program, which benefits some 300 people with no food
resources other than the inadequate prison rations. It also
submitted a report on misappropriated food aid to the
authorities in the hope of improving its delivery to the prisoners.
On the medical front, MSF has continued to work
closely with staff in the prison infirmary on increasing
access to and the quality of health care for the detainees,
with a focus on diagnosis.
From September to November 2001, MSF provided technical
support and medical supplies to treatment centers
during a cholera epidemic in Abidjan and the Khorogho
region in the north.
MSF has been working in the Ivory Coast since 1990.
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