YONECO, with support from Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) donated a total of 20 Dignity kits containing hygiene and sanitary items to female inmates at Mangochi Prison.
Women in Malawian prisons face various challenges especially on menstrual hygiene. As such, women in prisons need special consideration to ensure that they have access to personal health and hygiene materials like sanitary pads, soap, painkillers, enough underwear, and changing clothes.
Upon learning that women at Mangochi Prison are facing such deprivations, YONECO mobilized the dignity kits from the Malawi Red Cross Society which managed to provide 20 sanitary boxes tailored to meet the aforementioned needs.
“Female inmates have all the potential to achieve great things in life after saving their sentence, hence they need a supportive environment. Prisons are not supposed to be punitive but reformatory centres,” explained Funny Chilembo – District Manager for YONECO in Mangochi.
The Officer in Charge (OC) for the facility explained that there are other challenges which need to be addressed in order to enhance the welfare of inmates. The OC mentioned challenges like the lack of beds, mattresses, mosquito nets, and bathing pails in the women’s cells.
