A cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State has resulted in the deaths of two inmates, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The outbreak was confirmed through laboratory tests on September 23 by the NCoS medical team and Kano State public health authorities. The first case was detected on September 17, after an inmate began to experience symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
The affected inmate was immediately admitted and treated at the facility's medical centre, while emergency medical protocols were activated the following morning. Health workers intensified medical intervention and monitoring to prevent further spread of the disease. The NCoS spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, J.N. Osuji, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
One of the deaths occurred at the custodial centre, while the other was recorded at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital. The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and directed that measures to protect inmates and personnel be sustained. The NCoS regretted that the outbreak claimed two lives.
The NCoS stated that its coordinated interventions had brought the outbreak under control, with no further deaths recorded since the diagnosis. Additional preventive measures have been introduced in collaboration with the Kano State Government to reduce the risk of another outbreak. The service is strengthening continuous disease surveillance, early detection, and prompt medical intervention across custodial facilities.
Nwakuche directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service's National Headquarters to proceed to the facility for sustained monitoring of the situation. This move aims to ensure that the situation remains under control and that inmates receive adequate medical care. The team will work closely with the facility's medical staff to monitor the health of inmates and provide support as needed.
The NCoS reassured the public that healthcare services remain available to inmates through qualified medical personnel. The service urged Nigerians to rely on verified information from official channels. The public is advised to be aware of the risks associated with cholera and take necessary precautions to prevent its spread.
The Nigerian Correctional Service is working closely with the Kano State Government to prevent future outbreaks and ensure the health and well-being of inmates and personnel. The incident highlights the importance of adequate healthcare services in custodial facilities and the need for continuous disease surveillance and monitoring.
Key points
- Two inmates died from a cholera outbreak at Kano's Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre.
- The Nigerian Correctional Service has brought the outbreak under control with coordinated interventions.
- Additional preventive measures have been introduced to reduce the risk of another outbreak.
