The Lawyers’ Society has called on relevant authorities to provide urgent medical and psychosocial care for Zainab Sherrif and other inmates whose health may require specialised attention.
In a statement, the Society said reports concerning Sherrif’s health require immediate and appropriate action, stressing that incarceration does not remove a person’s fundamental rights to humane treatment, dignity and access to healthcare.
The Society also called for a comprehensive assessment of inmates with physical or mental health conditions, including access to psychological and psychiatric services where required.
It cited the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules, which state that healthcare for prisoners is a state responsibility and that inmates should receive healthcare comparable to that available in the wider community.
The Society acknowledged the challenging conditions under which correctional authorities operate and the work of correctional officers, but said resource constraints should not justify neglecting people deprived of their liberty.
It is calling for Sherrif to receive an immediate medical assessment and appropriate treatment, including referral to a specialist or external medical facility where clinically necessary, as well as adequate provision of essential medicines and psychosocial support for inmates in need.
