NCoS contains cholera outbreak at Kurmawa Custodial Centre, Kano

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it has contained a recent outbreak of cholera at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano.

The Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC) J.N. Osuji, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

Osuji said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory investigations conducted by the NCoS medical team and Kano State public health authorities on Sept. 23.

He said the incident was first detected on Sept. 17, when an inmate presented with vomiting and diarrhoea and was immediately admitted and treated at the facility’s medical centre.

According to him, the medical team activated emergency medical protocols the following morning, while intensifying medical intervention, monitoring and other preventive measures.

He said the coordinated interventions successfully brought the outbreak under control, adding that no further mortality had been recorded since the diagnosis.

“The Service regrets that the outbreak claimed two lives; one at the facility and the other at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he said.

Osuji said the Controller-General of Corrections, Mr Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, pcc, was immediately briefed and directed that all necessary measures be sustained to protect the lives, health and welfare of inmates and personnel.

He added that the Controller-General had extended heartfelt condolences over the unfortunate loss of lives.

The spokesman said the Service had initiated additional preventive measures in collaboration with the Kano State Government to prevent future occurrences.

He said healthcare services remained available across custodial facilities through qualified medical personnel, while continuous disease surveillance, early detection and prompt medical response were being strengthened in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.

Osuji said the Controller-General had also directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service’s National Headquarters to proceed to the facility for sustained monitoring of the situation.

He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to ensuring that persons in custody were treated humanely, with their health, dignity and welfare protected in accordance with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and established correctional standards.

The Service appreciated members of the public for their concern and urged them to rely on verified information from official channels as it continued to provide updates where necessary.