CHAPTER 5 VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES OF CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY In contrast to children in child justice institutions, fewer of those detained as a result of threats to national security had access to education. For some, this had been the case for more than three years: ‘When I was caught I was studying for science exam. I was good at school, but since I arrived here I lost my ability to study. The centre is not a place to study in’. (M/1215/6:APG) Likewise, the experiences of those in orphanages was mixed. While many reported having access to education and training, children with disabilities had varied experiences. Some reported having classes/school only within the institution, and others reported only studying ‘from time to time’ (MF/18+/2:EEG). c. Health Most children in child justice institutions, and all of those detained on national security grounds reported that they had some access to a doctor or medical care. Yet this access varied across the children’s accounts. While some were never refused a medical appointment, others only ‘sometimes’ had access to medical care. A few reported that they were queried when asking for medical assistance: ‘Questioned about why doctor needed - not let go [to the doctor] all the time’. (M/17/1:WEOG) ‘Medical care was not very good. If I told the staff of the orphanage that I was ill, they said that I was playing the fool’. (MF/18+/4:EEG) Lack of access to medical care, alongside the conditions of the institution, could cause or exacerbate poor health. These reports included the following: ‘I had pneumonia because I catch colds very easy and my immune system is easily affected and the doctor did not give me any treatment. Our health is at risk, because the conditions of living are very bad, the beds, blankets, sheets are dirty and old’. (M/15-17/1:EEG) ‘Most of the minors in detention are sick not only because of the poor quality of the food they receive, but also because they do not receive effective treatment … the infirmary is still lacking effective products for the treatment of diseases such as malaria’. (M/15-18/1:AFG) 90