By Katalina Siasau
A prisoner from Hu’atolitoli Prison died yesterday from a suspected suicide, the Hon. Prime Minister Dr. ‘Aisake Eke told a media briefing today, 7 March, at St. George Government Building in Nuku’alofa.
He said that the prisoner was admitted to Vaiola Hospital on Tuesday, 4 March, due to mental health concerns.
In response to this tragedy, PM Eke announced that the Cabinet had approved the establishment of a mental illness unit in the next government budget.
Additionally, the Cabinet had approved the formation of a committee to investigate the prison system, especially Hu'atolitoli Prison including prisons on the outer islands.
The Deputy PM Dr. Taniela Fusimalohi said this committee will address “concerns related to drugs, suicide, and other issues”.
Dr. Fusimalohi said it is important that Tonga’s prisons adhere to the convention related to the Treatment of Prisoners.
Meanwhile, it was not clear whether or not the prisoner had been discharged from the hospital and returned to the prison before his death.
No further details were released and the prisoner was not identified.
Matangi Tonga has contacted HM Prisons and Tonga Police for further details, and will update this story when more details come to hand.
No rehabilitation centre
A year ago, Dr Mapa Puloka, Psychiatrist in-charge of the Psychiatric Unit at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa, told Matangi Tonga that because Tonga had never established an illicit drugs rehabilitation center, the extra mental health workload was beyond the reach of both the public health psychiatric service and the voluntary community support services available.
Mapa said there had been plans put forward to establish a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Nuku'alofa, but successive Governments had not shown interest in that. "I don't think the Government prioritizes the need for an illegal drugs and alcohol center here in Tonga!"
This meant that after receiving psychiatric treatments at the hospital, the drug-related patients were referred to the voluntary services of the Salvation Army.
The drugs and alcohol program manager for Salvation Army Tonga, Mele Prescott, told Matangi Tonga last year that there was a high number of admissions to their programs and no proper facility within which to conduct them. With no rehab centre, all they could was to provide educational and motivational support to the individual.
Prison facilities
A small Psychiatric Unit at Hu'atolitoli Prison is an extension of, and remains under the administration of, the Psychiatric Ward of Vaiola Hospital. Last June a psychiatric nurse working at the prison unit died after being attacked by a patient and sustaining fatal injuries.
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See also:
March 22, 2024: Unmanaged drugs issue "a new normal" in Tonga, breaking up families and communities
June 18, 2024: Psychiatric nurse dies from assault at work in undermanned prison unit
October 23, 2024: Stigma surrounding mental illness isolates Tonga's psychiatric care and caregivers
