By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
A 63-year-old inmate in Tubmanburg, Bomi County identified as Marcus Mark died early Saturday morning (March 14, 2020) at Bomi County Liberian government hospital, amid lack drugs syndrome at the health facility in this western Liberian County.
The alleged rapist, Marcus is said to have been persistently ill in the prison and had been taken to the referral hospital in Tubmanburg on numerous occasions. But all the time he ever went to the health facility he was given prescription to buy drug, reports say.
Many people wonder why an inmate would be given prescription when he is incarcerated and not working anywhere to pay his medical bill.
The 63-year-old rape inmate’s frequent health problems were reportedly known by the Tubmanburg prison authorities, but nothing was done until his demise.
Recently, this paper published a story about prisoners right been violated at the Liberian prisons across Liberia but yet the condition remains unbearable and even worsen day by day. But in the past prison officials have complained of limited budgetary support.
Recently this news outlet reported that prisoners’ lives were at risk at the Tubmanburg prison.
Even though the prison facility in Tubmanburg Bomi County has a one- room clinic structure, there is nothing there to represent a clinic. It has only one Nurse Aide, who usually goes there only on Thursday of each week, with little or nothing to work with. One local said, if no drug is in the referral hospital, how can drugs also be at the clinic in various prison facilities.
On September 18, 2019, an inmate identified as Mannah Sando died again in prison in Gbarpolu County, after complaining of ulcer on several occasions. And he was taken to hospital for each time he complained but all his visitation at the health facility, he given prescription when he has been incarcerated with no money.
The deceased, Sando was held in prison for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in Gbarma District, Gbarpolu County.
Meanwhile, the body of inmate Marcus Mark is still at the Bomi County Liberian government hospital.