By Adebayo Gbeja
No fewer than 100 inmates of the Kuje Custodial Centre on Thursday benefitted from a free medical outreach by the Support and Help Outpatient Foundation (SHOF).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach with support from health and institutional partners, was held under the theme “Restoring Health, Restoring Hope, Health Beyond Walls”.
NAN also reports that during the outreach inmates were provided with free medical services, drugs and hygiene materials.
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SHOF, Mr Anosike Richard, said the outreach targeted more than 100 inmates.
Anosike explained that the initiative was aimed at ensuring that inmates had access to healthcare and knew their health status.
He said the outreach was focused was on medical tests, diagnosis, treatment, counselling and drugs for conditions including malaria, hypertension, diabetes, HIV and hepatitis.
He disclosed that the foundation also donated more than 30 different medications, sanitary pads for female inmates and personal hygiene items, including slippers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, tissue paper and disinfectants.
According to him, the initiative is borne out of my personal experience after surviving a serious motor accident, which inspired me to establish SHOF to support people who cannot afford medical care.
“Health is a right, not a privilege of location. Today, we have brought doctors, free drugs, medical checks and counselling because restoring health is restoring hope.”
Anosike said the foundation would sustain the initiative and extend its activities beyond the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to other states and communities.
Speaking at the event, the Assistant Controller-General, Medical and Clinical Services, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Dr Glory Essien, appreciated the foundation for its collaboration with the NCoS in providing medical services to inmates.
Essien said the service prioritised the health of inmates and thanked the Controller-General of Corrections, CG Sylvester Nwakuche, for approving the outreach and other medical initiatives.
She revealed that the NCoS had doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health personnel providing medical services to inmates across custodial centres.
According to her, efforts are ongoing to enrol inmates nationwide under the National Health Insurance Scheme as a vulnerable group.
Similarly, Dr Nnadika David, one of the doctors attending to inmates, said hypertension was among the most common health challenges observed during the outreach.
Nnadika said SHOF had operated for more than 10 years, providing medical support to people who could not afford healthcare.
He also said that the foundation had developed a follow-up plan with the centre’s medical team for inmates requiring further medical attention.
NAN reports that the outreach was supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria, NISA Premier Hospital, Dajo Hospital Ltd, Classic Supermarket and Lux Flush Hygiene and Sanitation.(NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker
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