A health emergency is unfolding across correctional facilities in Adamawa State as outbreaks of cholera and other highly contagious hygiene-related diseases have struck inmates in at least two custodial centres.
The alarming development was disclosed on Friday by the Chairman of Jada Local Government Council, Salihu Ahmed, during a free medical outreach programme in the area.
According to him, no fewer than 28 inmates at the Kojoli Custodial Centre are currently battling cholera infections, while additional cases of waterborne and skin-related diseases, including scabies, have been reported at the Jada facility.
“This is a serious situation,” Ahmed lamented.
“In the past five days alone, 28 inmates at the Kojoli Correctional Centre have been infected. Here in Jada, we’ve recorded several cases of scabies and other hygiene-related illnesses. These are outbreaks we cannot afford to ignore.”
The three-day free medical intervention, launched in response to the crisis, is a collaborative initiative between the Abuja-based Nizamiye Hospital, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, and the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Delu Bulus Yakubu.
The Chairman, Ahmed, passionately appealed to the outreach team to prioritise the affected correctional facilities, stressing that the health and dignity of inmates must not be neglected.
He assured that efforts were already underway to combat the situation, with support from the Adamawa State Government and local authorities.
“Our council is working hand-in-hand with the state government to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. But we need all the help we can get,” he emphasised.
The unfolding crisis has sparked concerns among health experts and human rights groups, who warn that overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to clean water in Nigeria’s correctional facilities remain a ticking time bomb for public health.
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