the centre has become a place of refuge and relaxation for many of the detaines who refuse to go back to the prison even when they have been cured. - The high rate of mortality (8%); which can be attributed to the difficult circumstances under which the patients receive care. 179. Confronted with this situation, three major problems prevail at the CHU SO:  Lack of medical staff to care for the patients since no special medical officer has been appointed specifically for this centre. This creates additional workload for the staff working at the centre’ The latter also do not receive any incentives to motivate them nor safeguards.  Deterioration of working conditions, thus exposing not only the patients to hospital-acquired infections but also to the healthcare personnel involved.  A greater part of the hospitalisation-related expenses of inmates is borne by the department of social welfare at the CHU SO, since these detainees have, to a large extent, been abandoned by their relatives. No supporting action has been adopted by the prisons administration to provide financial support for the healthcare of inmates. The table below clearly illustrates the situation. Table No. 6 : Summary of cases of social care support for sick inmates in 2015 Areas Number of patients provided Total with care Consultations Various and Amount used for coverage Men Women Children 162 19 1 182 511.000 04 1 42 279.006 medical 37 surgical 54