In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is organizing consultations for raped prisoners at the Kasapa Prison in Lubumbashi from 3 December. On September 25, 26 and 27, during riots in the prison, about 50 of them were raped by other prisoners.
Since then, some have reportedly been released or referred to health centers, but many remain and have not received treatment. The NGO is trying to rectify this by setting up a temporary clinic.
“We met women in prison, explains Dr. Salha Issoufou, MSF Director. Thirty of them claim to have been raped by 5, 10 or even 20 prisoners. Among these women are two teenage girls who became pregnant. We have planned to initiate gynecological consultations and associated paraclinical examinations. And see if the women are sick, we have to take care of them. Those who are not sick, it is better to prevent them, especially prevention against hepatitis B. “
A rehabilitation of the prison
Médecins Sans Frontières is also calling for the rehabilitation of the prison and especially the separation wall between men and women and the health structure. All the pavilions had been lit by the rioters.
“The situation is critical and it can escalate at any time, because today these women and men are practically in the same court. Before there was a wall of separation, but today they live together. With cohabitation, closeness is the risk that they will continue to be raped by these attackers, “adds Dr. Salha Issoufou.
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