Two inmates have died in a cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed this in a statement, on Saturday
According to the Service’s spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, JN Osuji, laboratory tests conducted on September 23 confirmed the outbreak
He said the outbreak was first detected on September 17 after an inmate developed symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea
He said the inmate was immediately admitted and treated at the facility’s medical centre, while emergency health protocols were activated the following morning
“The Nigerian Correctional Service has confirmed that a cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano has been contained The outbreak was confirmed on 23rd September by the Service’s medical team and Kano State public health authorities.”
“The Service says the first case was detected on 17th September, when an inmate presented with vomiting and diarrhoea and was immediately admitted and treated at the facility’s medical centre
Two people have died — one at the custodial centre and another at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital
“The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, directed sustained medical intervention, monitoring and preventive measures in collaboration with the Kano State Government
“The Service says no further deaths have been recorded since the outbreak was confirmed”
The NCoS said its intervention had brought the outbreak under control, adding that no additional deaths had been recorded since the diagnosis
It said further preventive measures had been introduced in collaboration with the Kano State Government to prevent a recurrence
Nwakuche also directed a team of senior medical personnel from the NCoS National Headquarters to proceed to the facility for continued monitoringed.
The Service reassured the public that inmates continued to have access to healthcare through qualified medical personnel and urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources regarding the outbreak