The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday conducted training on chlorine disinfection to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in the Kingdom’s prisons. ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday conducted training on chlorine disinfection to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in the Kingdom’s prisons.
The training took place after the ICRC donated 20 tonnes of medical materials to the General Department of Prisons (GDP) last week.
A notice issued by the ICRC said GDP officials from 28 correctional centres in the capital and provinces had joined the training which was conducted for one day at Correction Centre I.
“This training is supported by donations from the ICRC to prevent the disease in prisons,” the notice said.
On April 10, GDP director-general Chan Kimseng and ICRC’s mission head in Cambodia, Roman Paramonov, co-signed an agreement for donations of 20 tonnes of medical materials.
The items included 50kg of calcium hypochlorite powder (221 buckets), protective clothing, boots, gloves, goggles, water spray buckets, sanitisers, and medical face masks.
The ICRC said in the notice that it had continued to support the health, hygiene and sanitation needs of detainees and prison personnel in terms of materials, equipment, training and follow-up activities necessary for organising screening posts, sanitation and protection of more than 38,000 detainees and 4,000 prison staff.
Its communications officer Phalkun Chan told The Post on Monday that the training was conducted to help prison officials learn about techniques and how to use the powder to kill the virus in prisons.
“This training is for them to know how to use clean materials and kill the virus, and special emphasis is put on the use of chlorine to prevent tuberculosis. Overall, after we touch objects with our hands, we have to wash them,” she said.
GDP spokesman Nuth Savna could not be reached for comment on Monday.
But he previously emphasised that measures being implemented in prisons to prevent Covid-19 include delaying visits, installing disinfectant machines and taking temperatures at exits and entrances.
Detainees have to follow the directive of the Ministry of Health by washing hands with soap regularly, refraining from touching their faces and wearing facemasks.
But he said detainees are facing social distancing issues because prisons are overcrowded.
A prisoner only has 1m of space to sleep in.
