The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that none of its 256 custodial centers nationwide have recorded any cases of Mpox, despite the rising number of cases across the country. This was disclosed by the Assistant Controller of Corrections and Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that 48 confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with no deaths recorded. To help manage the situation, the U.S. government provided Nigeria with 10,000 vaccine doses on August 27.
### Proactive Steps in Place
Umar attributed the absence of Mpox cases in the custodial centers to the service’s proactive measures, which include compliance with medical guidelines, strict hygiene practices, and ensuring a stable water supply.
“One of the major reasons we’ve been successful in preventing Mpox outbreaks is our strong adherence to health and hygiene protocols in our custodial centers,” he said. “We take all directives from our medical personnel seriously, ensuring that the inmates and staff are protected from potential infection.”
Umar also highlighted that the NCoS has a robust system for preventing disease outbreaks by monitoring potential threats outside the centers. As soon as any outbreak is detected in nearby areas, immediate steps are taken to limit contact between infected individuals and the custodial population.
“The most important step we’ve implemented over the years is ensuring sanitation standards are maintained and that the water supply in our facilities is clean and safe. This has helped us avoid the spread of diseases like Mpox, which can be transmitted through environmental contact with infected persons,” Umar explained.
### Collaboration with Health Authorities
To further strengthen their preventive efforts, the NCoS is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Health and state governments to monitor any potential risks. Umar noted that this close cooperation is part of a broader initiative to ensure that Mpox, and other diseases, do not find their way into the country’s correctional facilities.
“The Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, is committed to keeping our facilities infection-free, and we are working closely with health authorities to achieve this goal,” Umar added. “We’re making sure that the health and safety of both staff and inmates are prioritized.”
### Government Support and Infrastructure Improvements
Umar praised the Nigerian government, particularly President Bola Tinubu’s administration, for its role in improving the overall conditions within the correctional service. He highlighted that better budgetary provisions, infrastructure upgrades, and improved welfare for both staff and inmates have played a critical role in the service’s ability to remain disease-free.
“These improvements are part of deliberate efforts to address past neglect, and they have contributed to the progress we’re seeing today in terms of managing health risks within our facilities,” he said.
### Future Developments
To address the growing population in custodial centers, the NCoS is also constructing three high-capacity facilities, each designed to hold 3,000 inmates, in three geopolitical zones: Kano (North West), Karshi-Abuja (North Central), and Bori Rivers State (South-South). These projects aim to alleviate overcrowding, which can increase the risk of disease transmission.
Umar reaffirmed the NCoS’s commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment in all its centers, ensuring that measures to prevent Mpox and other diseases remain effective.
“We have never experienced an outbreak of Mpox in our facilities, and with the preventive steps we are taking, we do not expect to see one,” he concluded.
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