Morocco accelerates Covid vaccination campaign, targets prison population

Posted On 27 May 2021

Number of times this article was read : 618
Morocco has vaccinated nearly 4,000 inmates as part of a campaign launched in March to inoculate the incarcerated population against coronavirus, the kingdom’s prison authority said Wednesday. The aim of the campaign, started several weeks after the national vaccination drive, is to work toward “a collective immunity for 80 percent of prisoners”, said Taoufiq Abtal, the head of health for the prison authority DGAPR. “This is a pioneering operation,” he said during a press tour of the El Arjat prison, near the capital Rabat, stressing “good progress” had been made.
Morocco’s 78 prisons hold nearly 85,000 inmates, 45 percent of whom are in pre-trial detention, with the North African kingdom’s prison system suffering a “chronic problem” of overcrowding, according to the DGAPR. The court of auditors says inmates live in an average surface area of 1.8 square metres (19 square feet), and the non-governmental Moroccan Observatory of Prisons says some jails have an occupancy rate of more than 250 percent.
Since late January, around eight million Moroccans have received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and nearly five million have had two doses, according to the latest official figures. The vaccination campaign in prisons is currently targeting inmates aged over 45, and those with chronic illnesses.
Morocco recently eased restrictions imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus, shortening a night-time curfew, but a long-standing state of emergency over the health crisis has been extended until June 10. Morocco’s borders will remain closed to 54 countries until at least June 10, according to the civil aviation authority. The kingdom has recorded over 517,000 cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, including 9,131 deaths.
AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< Morocco is finally about to legalize use of cannabis, but not for recreational purposes yetPolisario leader to testify remotely in Spanish court probe >>
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine Augier exposes how multinationals like Lafarge navigate ethics and profit in conflict zones, raising questions on global accountability.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This