The military council is restricting medical treatment for prisoners who were severely injured in the earthquake that struck Oh-Bo Prison in Mandalay on March 28, according to Ko Thaik Tun, a leading committee member of the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM). The earthquake resulted in four deaths, including one male and two female inmates, with nine people in critical condition and over forty requiring hospitalization.
The prison currently has only two to three doctors available, while the number of injured inmates is substantial. Those who sustained severe injuries to their heads, arms, and legs require emergency medical treatment. Additionally, there are inmates who were already ill before the earthquake. Despite requests for treatment at external hospitals, authorities have denied permission for these critically injured prisoners to receive proper medical care outside the facility. The situation is particularly concerning as many injured inmates are also being denied contact with their family members.
The prison is currently facing severe shortages of medical supplies, including basic necessities such as alcohol, cotton, antiseptic solutions, and bandages. The women’s wards one and two are experiencing particularly acute shortages of medical supplies. The earthquake caused significant damage to the prison infrastructure, with the women’s hospital wards collapsing and severe damage to the men’s wards, workshops, and surrounding prison walls, according to the statement released by the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).
