Mission Guinea

In spite of ill health, President Conté continues to control the political chess board. In March 2005, he carried out an extraordinary ministerial reshuffle, and the general economic situation remains dominated by hyperinflation and the impoverishment of the population. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are not respected. Living conditions are extremely harsh, especially in prisons where sanitary and hygiene measures are repeatedly ignored and poor treatment is commonplace. The number of daily deaths continues to increase.

Improving health in prisons

Kindia

Activities:

Kindia central prison houses around 200 inmates living in very harsh conditions. Since 2001, MdM has been supporting Kindianaise d'Assistance aux Détenus (KAD, or Kindia Support for Prisoners), a Guinean organisation made up of volunteers working directly in the prison to improve health and hygiene. There are several aspects to their work:

• training a prisoner in nursing care and running a pharmacy inside the prison;
• a partnership with the health authorities to treat the most serious cases in Kindia hospital;
• nutritional support for those suffering from malnutrition;
• renovation of health infrastructure;
• literacy work amongst prisoners;
• income-generating activities (sewing, weaving).

These activities are vital for improving prison conditions. As well as the income they generate, for the prisoners they are the equivalent of a regular job, acquiring skills and simply a regular outing from their cells.
Outlook:

A major issue for 2006 is to increase the income-generating activities begun in 2005. There are two objectives: to help KAD's financial autonomy (by releasing local resources), and to facilitate the reintegration of inmates when they leave prison. In 2006, MdM will help KAD to launch new activities such as making rattan furniture, as the sewing and weaving activities are proving successful.

July 2006