Post a comment 
The Lawyers Society is calling for urgent improvements in prison healthcare after raising alarm over reported medical concerns involving inmate Zainab Sheriff and other inmates requiring treatment.
In a statement issued Monday, the organisation said information about Sheriff’s condition highlights wider weaknesses in access to medical and psychosocial services inside correctional facilities.
The Lawyers Society did not present independent medical verification of Sheriff’s condition but urged authorities to ensure she and other inmates receive prompt clinical assessment and appropriate care where needed.
It stressed that imprisonment restricts liberty only and does not remove the right to healthcare or humane treatment.
Citing the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules, the group said inmates are entitled to healthcare equivalent to services available in the wider community, including mental health support.
The organisation also called for comprehensive medical reviews for inmates with serious or suspected conditions, improved access to psychological and psychiatric care, and consistent availability of essential medicines and diagnostic services in prisons.
It further urged stronger oversight of prison health systems to ensure compliance with human rights obligations and prevent neglect of inmates’ medical needs.
While acknowledging operational and resource constraints within correctional services, the Lawyers Society said such challenges cannot justify inadequate healthcare or failure to protect inmate dignity.
