Noelle Hanrahan: Ready?
Mumia Abu-Jamal: Go ahead.
Noelle Hanrahan: Are you receiving hydrocortisone creams for your skin condition?
Mumia Abu-Jamal: Getting hydrocortisone cream, but I was instructed by the nurse at Geisinger to use it only on my face.
Noelle Hanrahan: Are you using Vaseline?
Mumia Abu-Jamal: I am using Vaseline. I’m using Vaseline that I purchase in the commissary, even though the infirmary has equipped me with several jars.
Noelle Hanrahan: Is it under the direction of anyone there that you’re using Vaseline?
Mumia Abu-Jamal: No, I am Vaselining and greasing myself. No staff member, except for once, no staff member has assisted me since they stopped wrapping.
Noelle Hanrahan: Are you still suffering from a rash?
Mumia Abu-Jamal: Yes.
Noelle Hanrahan: What’s it like? How is it manifesting?
Mumia Abu-Jamal: Some parts of the body are worse than others. My whole body is itching. The Vaseline does moderate that to some extent, but understand that the Vaseline is a palliative. It is not a cure. So, it is not a viable medical treatment to cure the rash. We still have not addressed the underlying reasons for the rash. I should also add, Dr. Gudea, the infectious disease specialist and consultant with the DOC’s telemed program, said in our last meeting on 9/9/15, in the morning, I believe a Wednesday, that after looking at all the tests it was his recommendation that Hepatitis C be treated in my case. I asked him, and he repeated that several times, in the presence of Dr. Kanem and myself.
Noelle Hanrahan: Brett also says to tell you that the DOC filed their opposition to the plenary injunction and stated that you, Mumia, could go without– go years without treatment for hepatitis—
Mumia Abu-Jamal: Go without what?
Noelle Hanrahan: That you could go for years without hepatitis C treatment.
Mumia Abu-Jamal: I think that’s nonsense and bulls**t because it’s just ridiculous. I don’t think that’s a medical recommendation. That’s a legal recommendation. Just as the DOC is ignoring a recommendation by the person they appointed to do an infectious disease scan of my condition, Dr. Gudea.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
