DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I 37 received regarding evacuation of prisoners to hospital concern above all cases of medical specialisations such as ophthalmology and psychiatry, which requires the transfer of sick prisoners to Windhoek. At Omaruru prison, the majority of prisoners try to obtain a recommendation for a specific diet from the doctors by any means at their disposal, harming those who are really sick and need medical attention, care and a specific diet. In fact, in this prison in which there is no medical service facility, the prison management finds it very difficult to distinguish those who are really ill from those who are not as large numbers of inmates claim to be ill. Yet, the hospital continues putting pressure on the prison, telling them that they do not have enough staff and therefore only want to attend prisoners who are seriously ill. The number of consultations for prisoners has been reduced to two days per week. Some prisoners who have written appointments with the doctor are not able to obtain permission to return for their appointments because the system in prison functions on the basis that the prisoners see the doctor in a roster system. At Omaruru police station, the authorities admitted to the delegation that three prisoners were in urgent need of being transferred to hospital, but that they did not have the means of transport to do so — the hospital is at a distance of 1,500 m. When the delegation's visit took place, at 2:25 pm on the same day, these sick people were still waiting. The police station however had three vehicles. According to the officer we met, one was broken down, one was being used on a field mission and the third was being used by the station commander. At the Mariental police station, a nurse comes once a week to care for the sick. Those who need to go to hospital are not always taken there in time. On the day of the visit of the Special Rapporteur there were 2 sick inmates who should have attended hospital appointments 3 and 5 days earlier, respectively. However, neither had been given permission by the police to do so. Diet, health care, and status of morbidity and mortality At Windhoek central prison, the women complained that the medical staff did not take time to hear their complaints and examine them in a closed room where their private life and intimacy could be respected. Prisoners who are on a diet recommended by the doctor only follow the diet three days a week, and for reasons of security, no prisoner is allowed to receive food from outside. The prison itself does not have a dietician. Prisoners have reservations about the capacity of the prison to offer them an adequate diet. High blood pressure, respiratory diseases including tuberculosis and AIDS are the most frequent illnesses. There have been three deaths since the beginning of 2001. At Walvis Bay prison, on the day the delegation was visiting, there were 38 prisoners who had tested positive for HIV, 38 who suffered from bronco-pulmonary diseases, of which 23 were tubercular, 3 suffering from mental illnesses and 3 from epilepsy. Around fifty prisoners were on a diet by recommendation of the doctor on the day of the visit. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned that a crisis of confidence is building up between certain of the prisoners' private doctors and the prison authorities regarding the diets recommended for the prisoners. The latter accuse the former of being too complacent in their recommendations. In any case, in view of the large number of prisoners who ask for a diet, the prison doctor has decided that from now on, apart from chronically ill patients, only those with food allergies should be considered for a diet. Three deaths were registered in the year 2000, two of which were AIDS related. At the Walvis Bay police station, a nurse comes twice a week from the hospital to see the sick prisoners. The latter complain of only being given tranquillisers. This