The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) is facing a significant challenge: a severe shortage of medical staff to care for a large number of inmates with mental health conditions.
During a public hearing in Abuja, the NCoS revealed that 8,246 inmates in its facilities nationwide are currently living with mental health issues.
The Scope of the Crisis
- Impact of Incarceration: Dr. Glory Essien, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections in charge of Medical Services, explained that the sudden loss of freedom can trigger psychological distress in some individuals, causing a rapid decline in their mental well-being.
- Staffing Shortage: Despite a system where trained inmates help identify those in distress, Dr. Essien emphasized that the number of medical personnel is critically low. A single doctor or psychologist is often responsible for hundreds, or even thousands, of inmates, making it impossible to provide adequate individual care.
- Funding and Supply Issues: Mohammed Bashir, the Assistant Controller General of Corrections for Pharmaceutical Services, noted that while the government is trying to address these issues, a lack of funding is a major barrier. He added that the service spends over N4 million monthly on basic items like sanitary pads alone for the 2.3 per cent of the inmate population that is female.
Call for Partnership
To combat the crisis, the NCoS has created a psychological services unit and partnered with psychiatric and psychological associations. However, Bashir admitted that drug supplies often run out quickly due to insufficient resources.
Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association and pharmaceutical companies for support, urging them to expand their services beyond Abuja and Lagos. She called for public-private partnerships to help improve healthcare delivery in correctional centers across the country.
