From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
No fewer than 200 inmates at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Makurdi, Benue State have been treated of various ailments by the management of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi.
The inmates were treated during a one-day free medical outreach embarked upon by the state government’s Alia Healthcare initiative through health officials from the hospital.
Speaking at the event, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), who also doubles as the Chairman, Medical Outreach of the hospital, Professor Agbir Terkura, who led other team members with medical and food items to the centre, said the gesture was part of Governor Alia Health Care Initiative to Benue people.
Presenting the items to the state Comptroller, Mary Oche, for examination before it was taken into the custodial centre for the outreach, Terkura said the gesture was part of their corporate social responsibilities to the inmates as well as residents living around the neighbourhood.
He explained that they were there to provide health care and treat common illnesses, such as intestinal worm infections, skin infections, cough and malaria, among others. He stated that the ones they were not able to handle would be referred to the appropriate centre.
“We are here to take care of their medical needs, the ones we will not be able to take care of will be identified and referred to the appropriate centre, so that is why we are here. In a situation like this, we have common illnesses like intestinal worm infection, skin infection, and we are able to identify cough and chronic cough diseases, then we will send them to the appropriate centres.”
The Comptroller, Correction, Benue State Command, Mary Oche, commended the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Stephen Hwande, and his team for reaching out to the inmates at this difficult times, and appealed to other spirited and corporate bodies to assist in reforming the inmates. The comptroller also appreciated the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for providing them a permanent site and a transformer, among others, after 47 years.
She said: “I am so much favoured; it’s a thing of pleasure, that is why I’m here to see that everything goes on well without any hitches.
We are happy that they are here because this will give them an opportunity to check their state of health and, also, treat them for illnesses like rashes, malaria and others.”
She described the gesture as an act of humanity, saying the state governor had further demonstrated his love and compassion for the people. The outreach featured medical consultation, donation of sanitary pads and food items, among other materials.