The Kogi State Government has extended mobile medical services to inmates and personnel of the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre as part of efforts to safeguard the health and wellbeing of persons in correctional facilities across the State. This initiative was led by the Kogi State Ministry of Health and provided basic medical screening and other health services to 188 inmates and personnel of the Correctional Service at the facility. The medical outreach was conducted on Friday.
The medical team deployed Portable Digital X-ray technology with Artificial Intelligence capability for the screening of tuberculosis and other chest-related conditions. Various body samples were collected from beneficiaries for more advanced laboratory investigations. This intervention was initiated by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as part of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that persons in correctional facilities have access to essential healthcare services.
The inmates and personnel of the Correctional Centre expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for extending the medical intervention to them. They described the gesture as a demonstration of compassion and concern for their wellbeing. One of the inmates said, “I thought the world had forgotten me, but today Ododo has reminded me that I am not forgotten”.
Adams Abdulazeez, commissioner for Health, said Governor Ododo had expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the transformative reforms being undertaken in the nation’s correctional services. He also thanked the President for supporting Kogi State through various interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the welfare, safety and dignity of persons in correctional facilities.
Commissioner Abdulazeez said the governor further reaffirmed his support for the President and pledged continued commitment to the safety, health and overall wellbeing of the people of Kogi State. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the exercise and commended the governor for the thoughtfulness behind the initiative and his concern for the health of inmates and correctional personnel.
The commissioner also commended the management and personnel of the Correctional Centre, as well as the inmates, for their warm reception and cooperation with the medical team throughout the exercise. He disclosed that the Ministry of Health would sustain the intervention and extend similar medical services to other correctional facilities across the state.
This initiative is consistent with the administration’s broader commitment to strengthening access to healthcare and ensuring that no category of people is excluded from essential health services in Kogi State. The Kogi State Government’s effort to provide healthcare services to inmates and personnel of correctional facilities is a significant step towards promoting the health and wellbeing of all individuals in the state.
Key points
- Kogi State Government extends mobile medical services to inmates and personnel of Koton Karfe Correctional Centre
- The medical outreach provided basic medical screening and other health services to 188 inmates and personnel of the Correctional Service
- The initiative is part of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that persons in correctional facilities have access to essential healthcare services
