Call-in to Support Prisoners Fight Against Toxic Living Conditions at Michigan Women's Prison

Description 

CALL FRIDAY JANUARY 25 TO SUPPORT PRISONERS' FIGHT AGAINST TOXIC LIVING CONDITIONS (script below)

This week people at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility (WHV) will be put on lockdown from Tuesday through Friday. During this time, everyone incarcerated at WHV will be forced to take Ivermectin, a pill to treat what MDOC is calling a scabies outbreak, and the prison will be closed to the public.

MDOC is forcing the use of Ivermectin in response to a mysterious, itchy rash that broke out a year ago. People inside WHV are reporting that they suspect the rash is not due to scabies, but rather to issues with the buildings’ water system, black mold, and lack of ventilation. They report, for example, that MDOC staff have been warned not to drink tap water at the facility, while prisoners have no other option. 

People inside report that if they refuse to take the Ivermectin pill they are facing punishment and will be placed in segregation for 90 days.

Call to demand MDOC’s accountability for the handling of the rash and overall conditions at WHV. Show MDOC that the public is paying attention to the treatment of the prisoners inside WHV. 

CALL FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 AND ASK:

Why are women being forced to take this pill when there are reports that the rash may not be connected to scabies? Why are there reports that the water is not drinkable and there is black mold in the showers? Why are guards and doctors told not to drink the tap water?

Why has the prison failed to investigate the rash with more transparency?

What will happen to women who refuse to take the pill?

Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility Warden, Shawn Brewer (734)-572-9900, then press 8 for “more options”, 3 for administrative office, 1 for warden’s officeMDOC Director, Heidi Washington (517)-241-7238

BACKGROUND:

Last February many people at WHV complained of an itchy rash that was originally identified as scabies. When many tests came back negative for scabies, officials began looking for another cause of the rash, at one point blaming prisoners for mixing cleaners for self-laundering of clothes.

In the past two months, officials returned to their theory that the rash is scabies, and have treated 25 people with Ivermectin, a pill used to fight parasites. This week, all 2,070 inmates will be required to take Ivermectin, and be placed on lockdown in their units for 4 days. During this time the prison will also be closed to visitors. A mass treatment like this is unprecedented, and those who refuse will be placed in segregation.

Reports from women inside say that not all the women suffering from skin rashes believe it is due to scabies and suspect MDOC’s response to enforce a mass treatment of scabies is covering up for infrastructural issues in the buildings potentially related to the rash, such as the water system, black mold in the showers, and the buildings’ lack proper ventilation. WHV’s building conditions and inadequate health services (provided by Tennessee-based Corizon Health Inc) have been previously extensively reported on by the Free Press and other media outlets, yet MDOC continues to deny this could be connected to the outbreak.

 READ MORE HERE:

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/01/14/women-huron-v...

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/03/14/state-investi...

Updates 
MONDAY 1/28/119: WHV is still on lockdown so still communications with the inside are still blocked. But from MI support crew: "Big thanks to everyone who called in to support the prisoners at Women's Huron Valley. We'll keep y'all posted as we hear updates."

Comments

January 25, 2019 10:50am
J (not verified)
When getting to the warden's office an error message is received that the "number is not answered".
January 25, 2019 10:52am
J (not verified)
Left a message on the Director's secretary's line requesting more info.
January 25, 2019 5:24pm
Panagioti (not verified)
Seems that the Warden's office has not been accepting calls as a result of this phone zap. Let's continue calling MDOC Director, Heidi Washington (517)-241-7238 and leaving messages that the Warden is unresponsive to these community concerns, and an outside investigation is needed...
May 29, 2019 8:47pm
Peacemaker healer (not verified)
Moxidectin is off label but might be worth a go if the ivermectin doesn't knock it out. It stays in your system longer than ivermectin and was recently FDA approved to treat river blindness. Tea Tree and Neem help with the symptoms but that is assuming no one has allergies to them. Eurax lotion should be given to everyone to help with the itching and also further kill any mites that make it through the ivermectin or new hatchlings.
June 10, 2023 10:48am
Damon soti (not verified)
And I have allowed one That is there and they are on the list for the lawsuit of. Black mold and something else. My hugest concern is the sexual abuse. Then I've been reading up on in the past. Another one of my huge concerns is the nurses there when I do med round they. Administer medications way ridiculously. Especially the suboxone. That's a whole another issue and how are the inmates getting meth inside there? That is running ravid Another thing is racism. I fiance and I are both native Americans and it is a nightmare for her to get. On a phone to talk to us and when she is on the phone. They are threatening her in the background. There's only 2 guards. Per unit they're majorly understaffed. They can't even control the women. And when you make a complaint your loved one gets. Punished. Who do I contact that can help with this matter without getting my loved one put in? A cell by herself hogtide naked.

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