By Bryant Arroyo
From PHN Issue 55, Winter 2024
America! America!
Land of the free, a society filled with justice and equality.
This is a clear example of hypocrisy,
unless they forgot to include me,
and millions of others kept in captivity.
Confined behind tall walls and razor wires,
with the nation of prisoners constantly rising higher.
Countless amounts will never be released,
except in a body bag once deceased.
By M. Ali
From PHN Issue 55, Winter 2024
Dear Prison Health News,
If you would be so kind (if you haven’t already done so), please explain the variety of sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis, herpes I vs. II, etc.
— Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for this great topic suggestion. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which develop due to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are very common, impact people of all genders, and can result from any type of sexual activity (vaginal, anal, oral, etc.). STIs can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. STDs don’t always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms, so it’s important to get tested if you believe you may have been exposed. The good news is STDs are preventable, and most are treatable as well. Talking to your partner about STDs and how to stay safe while having sex is an important way of protecting your health. Prevention is always better than treatment.
By Lily HA
From PHN Issue 55, Winter 2024
As of October 2023, there has been another surge in COVID-19 cases. Since data reporting to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is more limited than it was earlier in the pandemic, it’s harder to know the size of the surge. Still, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have all increased since summer. When possible, wearing a mask, keeping physical distance between yourself and others, and getting tested if you feel sick or are around someone else who tests positive continue to be good ways to protect yourself and others.
New variants of the coronavirus continue to arise, as experts have expected. There are currently multiple sub-variants of the Omicron variant going around. So far, these new variants and sub-variants seem to have similar symptoms to and cause similarly severe disease as previous variants, although they are more transmissible (easier to get and pass on to other people).
Continue reading “COVID-19 Update: RISING CASES AND UPDATED VACCINES”Adapted by Hannah Calvelli
From PHN Issue 55, Winter 2024
A variety of herbs and plants may grow in prison courtyards. In preparation for Spring, we highlight a few of the holistic remedies featured in The Prisoner’s Herbal, a book by Nicole Rose. We acknowledge that not everyone may have access to courtyards, but we hope this information can be useful for some and interesting to many. Furthermore, while the herbs in this article may have medicinal properties, research and evidence on how well herbal medicines work is limited. We recommend that you speak with a medical professional to address any symptoms you are experiencing.
Continue reading “Holistic Corner: HERBAL REMEDIES”Submitted by John Blue
From PHN Issue 55, Winter 2024
“Remember What We Are Fighting For”
We, the brothers, cancer survivors at Huntingdon in Pennsylvania, along with some of the medical staff, have started a cancer support group. We meet a couple times each month to help each other fight this monster that has come into our lives.
Continue reading “Cancer Fighters and Survivors at SCI-HUNTINGDON”By T King
Coeffield Unit, Texas
April 2021
First, let me say Thank you so much, you guys are Awesome for what you do for us locked away.
I’m writing to get your take on an issue that happens more than it is talked about.
My name is T. King & I’m a lifer on the Coffield unit in Texas. The largest & one of the oldest joints in the Lone Star State. Being a maximum-security unit, movement is restricted, understandably, so you’re either locked in your cell or the day room & now during COVID-19 it’s 2 hours instead of 1 hour at a time. Sometimes you can get stuck in there 3-5 hours depending on if the count clears in time.
Continue reading “It Happens More Than It’s Talked About”By Kirby Sokolow
From PHN Issue 54, Fall 2023
On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the COVID-19 pandemic “no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).” Days later, the U.S.’s federal public health emergency (PHE) also ended.
These announcements left the world wondering: What does it mean to end a public health emergency? Do the two declarations mean the same thing? Is COVID finally “over”?
Continue reading “The End of the Covid Public Health Emergency: NEW APPROACHES TO AN ONGOING PANDEMIC”By Lori McLuckie
From PHN Issue 54, Fall 2023
Dear Prison Health News,
Thank you very much for your letter in response to my inquiry about breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
Since I wrote that letter to you, a minor miracle has occurred: The Colorado Department of Corrections has made the decision to provide coverage for my reconstruction process. This decision was made in April 2022. Since then, I have had a consultation with the plastic surgeon, I’ve had the first surgery to install the expanders (the surgery occurred on Sept. 12, 2022), and I’ve begun the expansion process.
Continue reading “Breast Reconstruction Victory”By Lily H-A
From PHN Issue 54, Fall 2023
The goal of cancer screening is to catch cancer early, when it is more treatable and curable. Some cancer screenings, like colonoscopies, are recommended for everybody once they reach a certain age. However, other types of screening, like prostate screening and mammograms, have traditionally been recommended based on gender assuming that this matches sex assigned at birth. The medical guidelines for cancer screening do not yet reflect the needs of trans people, and there is also limited data about trans people’s risks for various cancers and how gender-affirming care like hormones and surgeries may affect these risks. As a general rule, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Transgender Care recommends that people get cancer screenings based on the body parts they have, regardless of gender or hormones.
Continue reading “Cancer Screening for Transgender and Gender-Diverse People”By Jamila Harris
From PHN Issue 54, Fall 2023
Dear PHN,
Could you explain the rules and violations of the HIPAA Act? Is it a violation if the correctional officer stays in the room while we are seeing medical staff and knows my medical information?
– L.W.
Dear L.W.,
When it comes to the rights of incarcerated individuals and the privacy of their medical information, a valid concern always comes to mind. “Do the correctional officers have the right to know your medical information?” A person who is incarcerated has certain legal rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA. This act is a federal law passed in 1996 that protects how medical information of individuals—including identifying factors such as address, birthdate, and social security number—is transferred and disclosed to others. Under the law, this identifiable health information is known as “protected health information.”
Prison Health News 