General health care is provided only at the Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire remand prisons. However, their infirmaries do not have the equipment or medications required to address prisoners’ needs.¹²

Civil society organisations have criticised the lack of resources allocated to prisoner care. They report that prisoners are in appalling health. Facilities lack healthcare staff – specialists in particular. Medicine is often brought in by families.³

Legislation regulating life in detention provides for systems aiming to ensure continuity of care throughout incarceration, including weekly visits from doctors, vaccination campaigns and the creation of care units.

These provisions struggle to be enforced. Civil society organisations have warned of the lack of qualified personnel and necessary resources. The dilapidated state of buildings, overcrowding, and insufficient care and meals all contribute to the outbreak and spread of disease. The state of health of prisoners has been described as “appalling”.

Medication is in short supply in detention. It is often brought in by prisoners’ families.

Hospitalisation is subject to constraints. Only the most serious cases are moved to referral hospitals.¹ External healthcare and escort costs must be covered by the sick prisoners.

“Sick prisoners are practically [all] transferred to big cities at their relatives’ expense. Those who are gravely ill will ultimately pass away, either in prison or between prison and the hospital, as hospital transfers are put off to the last minute and lead to numerous deaths. Cases of deaths in prison are reported regularly, but inquiries are never carried out.”²

The most prevalent diseases in detention are malaria and skin diseases such as scabies. Numerous cases of malnutrition have also been reported.

The legislation has no specific provision relating to epidemic management. Measures are taken on a case-by-case basis.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a series of measures was taken by the Congolese authorities in order to limit the spread of the virus. The Minister of Justice, Human Rights and the Promotion of Indigenous Peoples and the Minister of Health established a joint plan consisting of training prison officers in hygiene practices and preventive health techniques. Hygiene products were also made available in remand prisons. Visits from lawyers and relatives were limited during this period (Circular No. 302/MJDHPPA-CAB from the Minister of Justice regarding the adaptation of judicial activity to preventive measures and the fight against the coronavirus pandemic). Visitors were required to perform certain health practices: washing their hands, having their temperature taken and wearing protective masks upon entry into the remand prisons.¹

Civil society organisations have warned about the lack of measures to protect prisoners from malaria-bearing mosquitoes. They have specifically criticised the insufficient number of mosquito nets.