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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
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Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), said that inmates diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) are promptly placed on nationally- approved treatment regimens at no cost.
In a statement, the service discountenanced a report, suggesting that the custodial centres are “hotbeds” for tuberculosis.
According to the statement, the report portrayed custodial centres as unchecked “hotbeds” for tuberculosis adding that the claims and narratives in the report are not supported by verified NCoS data.
“Notably, names and cases cited in the report do not exist in the records of any custodial centre known to the service. Responsible journalism demands accuracy, balance, and reliance on verified, facility-specific data rather than conjecture, selective testimonies, or sensational headlines designed to misinform the public and malign public institutions” the statement, noted
The service claimed that healthcare management within custodial centres include medical screening upon entry into the centre, periodic health assessments, infection prevention and control measures; isolation of infectious cases where clinically indicated, and structured referral systems to external hospitals when necessary.
These measures, NCos noted, are continuously reviewed and strengthened, even as the service contends with challenges such as ageing infrastructure and increasing inmate populations; challenges that mirror broader systemic issues within the national health and justice sectors.
“It is also instructive to recall that the Nigerian Correctional Service has a clearly defined structure, protocols, and response mechanisms for the prevention and management of communicable diseases within custodial environments. These systems were effectively deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when custodial centres were categorised globally as high-risk settings. Through proactive screening, isolation protocols, inter-agency collaboration with public health authorities, and strict adherence to national and international health guidelines, NCoS successfully prevented the spread of COVID-19 into custodial centres nationwide, with no record of active case(s). This verifiable experience underscores the service’s institutional capacity, preparedness, and competence in managing communicable diseases, including tuberculosis, within custodial settings.
“While the service acknowledges the existence of congestion in some urban custodial facilities, this does not equate to indifference to inmates welfare or healthcare needs. NCoS remains actively engaged in decongestion efforts through jail delivery exercises, collaboration with the judiciary, and the expansion of non-custodial measures as provided for under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act.
“These interventions are central to improving custodial conditions and health outcomes. Furthermore, the Federal Government has approved the recruitment of additional medical and healthcare professionals to strengthen and enhance health service delivery across custodial centres nationwide. This development is to significantly bolster service delivery, improve response capacity, and reinforce disease surveillance and treatment programmes within the correctional system” NCoS stated.
