Mzuzu Prison inmates get reusable face masks

Viphya Lions Club has donated reusable face masks to 768 inmates at Mzuzu Prison to support their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking on Saturday after the handover, Viphya Lions Club president Iris Satha said their mission is to serve the less-privileged in society.

“We will come again to help the facility in various ways until we pass through the period of the pandemic,” she said.

On his part, Mzuzu Prison officer-in-charge Zacchaeus M’bawa said the face masks will prevent the spread of coronavirus since “social distancing is difficult to achieve in the cells”.

He said: “Inmates are safer in cells than outside because we don’t have any confirmed case.

“It is members of staff and visitors who pose the risk to our inmates.”

M’bawa said the facility is still congested despite government releasing 148 inmates through a presidential pardon and prison inspectorate activities.

“We have about 700 inmates against the capacity of 500. We still need to decongest our cells,” he said.

The donation also included soap, hand sanitisers and buckets.