Inmate mums given priority

 THE welfare of female inmates nursing their children, juveniles and detainees with physical disabilities in prison is a priority for the Correctional Service, Commissioner Michael Waipo said.

It is an international concern to ensure that inmates are treated equally and with respect, he said.

A major concern, Waipo said, was the design of the facilities that did not cater for people with disabilities, nursing inmates and juveniles. 

It was constructed specifically for male inmates. 

People coming into conflict with the law have changed and women and children under the ages of 18 years are more prominent in prisons now, Waipo said.

A CS officer at the Bomana female prison wing confirmed that there were no proper sections to accommodate nursing inmates and their children.

She said a nursing inmate and her child were kept in a makeshift room partitioned by a board from the sewing room.

A child can be nursed until three years old before being handed over to guardians or to the welfare office to be put up for adoption.

CS statistics show that 13 children are being nursed in prisons. Baisu in Western Highlands has five, Beon in Madang two, Bomana in NCD one, Buimo in Morobe two, Buka in Bougainville one (10-year-old with disability), Gili Gili in Milne Bay one and Kerevat in East New Britain one.