RIGHTS BEHIND BARS A Study of Prison Conditions In Zimbabwe 2018 inmates could come with their own anti-retroviral treatment supplies. Inmates requiring secondary care were referred to other health care institutions.90 The shortage of trained health care staff compromises the quality of the care that is given to prisoners and it is important for the State to provide the much needed resident health care professionals. Whilst all the Prisons generally comply with the obligation to take the necessary measures to protect the health of their people and to ensure that they receive medical attention when they are sick as required by international and domestic standards, the quality of service provided by doctors who make ad hoc visits is of a lower standard due to the limited time available than the service that could be provided by resident doctors. This violates the principle that prisoners should enjoy the same standard of health as available in the community.91 It is however worth noting that the inadequacy of medical personnel generally makes it difficult for the State to fulfil its obligation to prevent and control disease outbreak as required by international and national law. The Mutare Farm Prison and the Tabudirira Satellite Prison were the only prisons that had adequate specialised medical personnel.92 More specifically, the unavailability of specialist medical personnel in the majority of prisons visited is particularly worrying. Even mental health related detention facilities (such as Molondozi Prison) experienced shortages of general and specialist medical personnel. For instance, the prison had nine (9) mental health staff against a recommended number of 25 staff; one (1) Psychiatrist against a recommended number of two (2); one (1) Rehabilitation officer against a recommended number of two (2); one (1) Physiotherapist against a recommended number of two (2); and had no Psychologist against a recommended number of one (1).93 These figures fell short of the obligation to ensure that particular attention is given to prisoners with special health care needs or issues that prevent their rehabilitation.94 It further fell short of the rule that prison staff should include a sufficient number of specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.95 Medication was scarce, save for ARV’s which were always available at the Harare Remand Prison, the Mutare Farm Prison and the Whawha Young Offenders Prison; however there were no medical sundries and there was no refrigeration to store medication which requires refrigeration.96 The Mutare Farm Prison always had Tuberculosis medication and regular analgesia; however medication for chronic Hypertension, Asthma and Diabetes Melitas were not available.97 Inmates therefore had to rely on their relatives to supply them with medication during prison visits.98 The Tabudirira Satellite Prison only had regular analgesic medication in stock;99 the reason being that inmates were examined by nurses on 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 30 ZACRO and the Forum, Bindura Farm Prison Monitoring Visit Report, 2-3. Nelson Mandela Rules, Rule 24(1). ZACRO and the Forum Mutare Farm Prison Visit Report, 2 and Tabudirira Satellite Prison Visit Report, 2 ZACRO and the Forum, Mlondozi Prison Monitoring Visit Report, 5. Nelson Mandela Rules, Rule 25. Nelson Mandela Rules, Rule 78(1). ZACRO and the Forum Harare Remand Prison Visit Report, 6; Mutare Farm Prison Visit Report, 3; Whawha Young Offenders Prison Visit Report, 4. ZACRO and the Forum Mutare Farm Prison Visit Report, 3. ZACRO and the Forum Mutare Farm Prison Visit Report, 3. ZACRO and the Forum Tabudirira Satellite Prison Visit Report, 2. EGAP