CHAPTER 10. HEALTHY CONDITIONS IN CUSTODY OBJECTIVE All prisoners are entitled to be held in conditions which are decent and humane. The objective of this chapter is to underline that one test of whether prison conditions are decent and humane is that they meet proper health requirements. ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLE The medical officer has an important responsibility to ensure that proper health standards are met. He or she can do this by regularly inspecting and advising the director of the prison upon the suitability of food, water, hygiene, cleanliness, sanitation, heating, lighting, ventilation, clothing, bedding and opportunities for exercise. BASIS IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Rule 26 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners requires: (1) The medical officer shall regularly inspect and advise the director upon: (a) The quantity, quality, preparation and service of food; (b) The hygiene and cleanliness of the institution and the prisoners; (c) The sanitation, heating, lighting and ventilation of the institution; (d) The suitability and cleanliness of the prisoners' clothing and bedding; (e) The observance of the rules concerning physical education and sports, in cases where there is no technical personnel in charge of these activities. Rule 24 of the Standard Minimum Rules requires that: The medical officer shall see and examine every prisoner as soon as possible after his admission and thereafter as necessary, with a view particularly to … the segregation of prisoners suspected of infectious or contagious conditions; … IMPLICATIONS A healthy environment requires the cooperation of everyone in prison. This means: - Health training for prison staff; - Health education for prisoners. All prison staff need to have an understanding of basic health matters. Additional training and education are necessary periodically to keep staff and prisoners up to date on the latest health problems, such as drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other transmissible diseases. In some countries, the environmental health officers who have responsibility for public health matters have the right of access to prisons and can oblige the prison authorities to take necessary steps to ensure proper health standards. 67