CGC Nwakuche Prioritises Inmates’ Healthcare, Mental Wellbeing as NCoS Begins Nationwide Drug Distribution

Oru Leonard 

The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to improving inmates’ healthcare, mental wellbeing and overall welfare with the commencement of the second quarter nationwide distribution of essential drugs and medicaments to correctional commands and custodial centres across the country.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Nwakuche said the initiative reflects the Service’s determination to provide humane custody and quality healthcare in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.

He disclosed that the NCoS is placing special emphasis on the healthcare needs of female inmates by addressing menstrual hygiene management and other gender-specific sanitary requirements to protect their dignity and wellbeing.The Controller-General also revealed that the Service is intensifying efforts to secure the enrolment of inmates into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), describing the move as a critical step towards ensuring sustainable access to quality healthcare in custodial centres nationwide.

According to him, while some state governments have already enrolled inmates in their respective health insurance schemes, discussions are at an advanced stage to achieve nationwide coverage under the National Health Insurance Authority framework.

Nwakuche explained that the quarterly distribution of essential medicines forms part of a broader healthcare reform agenda aimed at strengthening medical services, reducing the burden of diseases, expanding mental health support and enhancing the rehabilitation and reformation of inmates.

The Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, Glory Essien, described the exercise as a major milestone in the Service’s healthcare reform programme. She said the distribution of essential drugs would improve inmates’ health and wellbeing while helping to curb epidemics and the spread of communicable diseases across custodial facilities.

Essien urged caregivers and medical personnel in all commands to ensure the judicious, transparent and accountable use of the medicines strictly for approved medical purposes in line with professional and ethical standards.

Also speaking, the Assistant Controller-General of Corrections in charge of Pharmacy, Muhammed Bashir, said the Service has institutionalised a robust monitoring and reporting framework to ensure that all medicines distributed to commands are used exclusively for inmate healthcare.

He explained that the accountability mechanism would strengthen oversight of pharmaceutical supplies, promote transparency in drug management and guarantee that the medications reach the intended beneficiaries in correctional facilities nationwide.

Nwakuche expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for correctional reforms and commended the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his strategic interventions, which he said have significantly strengthened healthcare delivery and improved inmate welfare across the Nigerian Correctional Service.

He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining reforms that promote the health, dignity and mental wellbeing of inmates while advancing its core mandates of safe custody, rehabilitation, reformation and successful reintegration into society.