The Coordinator of the Survival Cameroon Initiative of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement party, CRM has written to the Minister of Justice and keeper of the Seal, Laurent Esso, proposing to offer an important consignment of protective masks and hydro-alcoholic gels to be distributed to prisoners nationwide.

Over a week after the Minister of Public Health, Dr Malachie Manaouda declined a donation of anti-COVID-19 equipment from the Survival Cameroon Initiative, the latter has just solicited the Ministry of Justice to offer protective gears for onward distribution to inmates across Cameroon.

In the letter addressed to Minister Laurent Esso, the Coordinator of the project, Christian Penda Ekoka hints that from his own experience as an ex-detainee, he can affirm prisons constitute breeding grounds for the transmission of the virus, reason why they have decided to offer protective gears to prisoners.

“Regarding my recent experience of prison conditions in our country, I can affirm prisons constitute an environment at very high risk of exposure to the devastating effects of this virus.”

“Knowing your high sense of responsibility and your attachment to the preservation of human life, SCSI proposes to put at your disposal an important consignment of barrier masks and hydro-alcoholic gels.” Christian Penda Ekoka says in the letter.

This offer comes in three days after Amnesty International called on Cameroonian authorities to provide adequate medical care to detainees and put in place measures to prevent the virus from spreading in prisons.