106 prisoners died last year - 20 killed by AIDS

A total of 106 prisoners died in various prisons throughout the country last year, as against 76 in 1999, representing an increase of about 38.7 per cent, according to a 2000 Annual Report of the Ghana Prisons Service.

HIV/AIDS accounted for 20 of the deaths, while Tuberculosis and Diarrheoa claimed 17 and 11 lives respectively. Other causes are Pneumonia, nine, Congestive Cardiac failure, nine, Anaemia, seven, Asthmatic attack, Hypertension, Hernia, Enclofral Shock and Stroke, three each.

The list also includes Hypoproteinaemia and Brain Tumor, two each, and Buruli Ulcer and Snake bites one each.

The report attributed the increased deaths to the inadequate budgetary allocation for medical stores and the cash-and-carry system, which made it impossible for the service to achieve any significant improvement in health care delivery for inmates.