CHAPTER 1 SUHAKAM organised an online Roundtable Table Discussion on Addressing Scabies at Detention Centres on 22 October by inviting all the relevant government agencies, management of the detention centres as well as several relevant NGOs to discuss the problems, challenges and measures for addressing scabies. This discussion was a follow-up to the Prison Reform Programme implemented in September and November 2019, a collaboration between SUHAKAM and the Malaysian Prisons Department. During the RTD, it was explained that scabies could spread through skin contact, infested clothing or bedding and lack of personal hygiene. Detainees who are malnourished or have low immunity such as detainees with HIV/AIDS could cause the spread of crusted scabies. The symptoms of scabies are; i. severe itchy skin; ii. red spots on the interstices of the fingers, palms, inside of the wrists, genitals, back, around the navel, elbows and armpits; and iii. itching is worse at night and after bathing with hot water. Severe itching will cause the individual to scratch constantly causing wounds and a potential kidney infection. The main challenges in dealing with scabies in detention centres are: i. ii. iii. Overcrowding, resulting in close contact among detainees; High rate of movement of detainees in and out of prisons; Complicated scabies treatment procedures may interfere with other activities for detainees; iv. Failure to treat detainees who share a cell but are not symptomatic; v. Inadequate facilities to wash clothes in hot water so that the itch mites can be killed and the need to change clothes regularly; vi. Sharing of personal items; vii. Laws that result in overcrowding at detention centres; viii. Lack of proper ventilation, hygiene, limited health facilities and treatments, medical officers, medicine and treatment equipment at the detention places; and ix. Lack of education for detainees and training for staff as well as poor communication between them and the public health centre. ANNUAL REPORT 2020 43