With regard to financial difficulties, the Congolese penitentiary system does not have the requisite funds to modernise its facilities. Regarding human resources, the Congolese Penitentiary system is beset with staffing difficulties. The staff lacks the requisite training.3 In order to adapt the Congolese Prison System to the requirements of the International Human Rights Instruments, the Prisons Administration has drafted a exhaustive list of problems as at April 2007. 2. Health In the area of Health, many diseases and epidemics are raging in Congo but the Health delivery system is not in a position to live up to the expectations of the populations in terms of treatment. The morbidity table is indicative of what obtains in most countries south of the Sahara. Diseases related to reproduction are rife. Mother and child are particularly vulnerable. Further, chronic illnesses due to aging are on the rise The main causes of maternal mortality and morbidity are linked to induced abortion and complications during pregnancy and delivery: haemorrhage, les anaemia, post partum and post abotum infections and eclamptic toxaemia. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) pose a veritable Public Health problem. The annual infection rate is 15 % for gonococcal diseases, 20% for clamydiatrachmatis. Adolescents are the most vulnerable group Schistosomiases is endemic and stable in the South of the country. The case detection rate is between 5 and 35%, the youth are the most affected. The leprosy epidemic is subsiding somewhat thanks to the introduction of polychemotherapy in 1990. In 1999, there were 964 registered cases, 5% were children and the prevalence rate of the disease is estimated at 1.22 cases for every 10,000 inhabitants. Trypatosomiasis presently affects 5 department out of 11 (Pool, Plateaux, Niari, Bouenza, et la Cuvette). The main focus of the illness is in the Bouenza and along the banks of the Congo River up to Mossaka. In all, 111 new cases were registered in 2000, 393 in 2001 and 330 in 2002. Drepanocytosis is the most common hereditary disease. Over 20% of the population are carriers of AS drepanocytosis, and 1.5 carry the SS type. 3 ) Source : Status of the Department of Prisons April, 2007 29