Inmates in Bolivia prison riot demand doctors

Inmates in a prison in central Bolivia rioted on Monday to demand better health services after the death of three others inside the prison.

The inmates climbed onto the San Sebastian prison roof in Cochabamba, waving black and Bolivian flags, a cardboard coffin, and several banners demanding medical staff.

A woman who identified herself as the mother of one of the inmates said there is no doctor inside and sick people are not receiving medical attention outside either.

From the prison roof, one of the inmates held a speaker to state their demands.

"We want medical teams. We know there are three deaths (among us), and other people deceased in the police. But until today we've not received information about the deaths of the other inmates," he said.

Jails in Bolivia have been vulnerable to the virus spread.

Authorities of the San Pedro jail in capital La Paz are awaiting medical tests of 23 people who died in recent weeks suspected to COVID-19 cases.

According to a Johns Hopkins University tally, Bolivia had confirmed close to 70,000 COVID-19 cases and 2,583 deaths.

(Representative Image)