According to the Lawyers’ Society, incarceration does not extinguish a person’s fundamental rights to humane treatment, dignity, and access to healthcare. The Society expressed concern over reports regarding Zainab Sheriff’s health condition and urged relevant authorities to take prompt and appropriate action to ensure she receives the medical attention required.
Notably, the organisation emphasized that while deprivation of liberty is the punishment imposed by law, it must never become a justification for denying necessary medical, psychological, or psychiatric care.
Seemingly, they argued that prisoners should not be forced to endure prolonged suffering or deterioration in their health before receiving appropriate treatment.
“This is not merely a matter of compassion,” the statement noted. “It is a matter of law, human dignity, and internationally recognised standards of prison administration.”
In support of its position, the Lawyers’ Society cited the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, commonly known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.
The Society highlighted Rule 24, which places responsibility for prisoner healthcare on the State and requires that inmates enjoy the same standards of healthcare available in the wider community without discrimination based on their legal status.
It also referenced Rule 25, which requires prison health services to protect and improve the physical and mental health of prisoners, with particular attention given to those with special healthcare needs.
Furthermore, the Society, these international standards reinforce the obligation of correctional authorities to provide adequate healthcare regardless of the offences for which individuals may have been convicted or detained.
While raising concerns, the Lawyers’ Society acknowledged the difficult conditions under which correctional authorities operate and expressed appreciation for the work of correctional officers.
However, it maintained that resource constraints cannot justify neglecting the healthcare needs of persons deprived of their liberty.
The Society stressed that the Mandela Rules place dignity and humane treatment at the centre of prison management and that those principles must remain non-negotiable.
Five Key Recommendations
The Lawyers’ Society outlined five specific measures it believes should be implemented urgently:
1. Immediate medical assessment and treatment for Zainab Sheriff, including referral to specialist or external medical facilities where clinically necessary.
2. A comprehensive assessment of the health needs of other inmates who may be suffering from physical illnesses, mental health conditions, or other medical concerns.
3. Prompt access to psychological and psychiatric services for prisoners requiring psychosocial support.
4. Adequate provision of essential medicines, diagnostic services, and specialist care within correctional facilities.
5. Regular monitoring of healthcare conditions in prisons by the appropriate oversight institutions.
Importantly, the Society made clear that its intervention extends beyond the case of Zainab Sheriff.
While acknowledging concerns surrounding her reported health condition, the organisation argued that the issue should serve as a reminder of the healthcare challenges facing many inmates whose medical and psychosocial needs may go unnoticed.
The Society therefore urged authorities to ensure that no inmate requiring medical or psychosocial intervention is left without appropriate care.
Concluding its statement, the Lawyers’ Society urged authorities to treat the concerns surrounding Zainab Sheriff’s health with the seriousness they deserve while simultaneously strengthening healthcare systems across correctional facilities.
The organisation ended with a broader reminder that prisoners remain human beings whose dignity and rights must be protected.
As the statement puts it, “The bars may restrict liberty; they must never become a barrier to dignity, healthcare and humane treatment.”