UNODC supports  Nigeria’s correctional service to raise awareness on COVID-19

UNODC supports Nigeria’s correctional service to raise awareness on COVID-19

Following the spread of COVID-19 in prisons around the world, the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has donated information materials providing basic facts about the virus to the Nigerian Correctional Service for distribution to for staff and inmates across the country.

The materials according to a statement by UNODC country office, Abuja, are produced in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo and will be disseminated across the 244 Custodial Centres in Nigeria,

Receiving the materials on behalf of the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Comptroller General, Ja’afaru Ahmed, stated that “this noble donation will assist the Service in its prompt response to curtail and control the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the Service maintains its zero COVID-19 related deaths.

“At this period of health challenge, any effort made to make life easier for others is appreciated,” he said.

Confirmed  COVID-19 cases amongst prisoners and/or prison officers have been reported in many countries, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Moldova, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The number, according to the UNODC statement,   is almost certain to increase in the future.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government, on 9 April 2020, announced  the early release of 2600 inmates serving sentences for minor offences or whose prison terms were about to expire with a view to reducing overcrowding which has been plaguing  Nigeria’s correctional system for decades.

“Recent prison riots across the globe have shown that being infected is not the only COVID-19 related risk prisoners and staff are facing. Misinformation and misconceptions about the virus cause stress that can lead to panic, aggression and eventually violence,” UNODC said.

About author

You might also like

Lassa fever: Lagos calls for calm

LUTH confirms 3 cases on admission, says they are responding to treatment The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Chris Bode, today confirmed that three out

Lassa fever: Edo health officials, WHO, partner agencies, storm affected communities to sensitize members

Edo State Health Commissioner, Prof. Obehi Akoria yesterday, led senior officials of the health ministry, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partner agencies to some local governments most hit

Monkeypox: Signs and Symptoms

           Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as variola.  It is now being

0 Comments

No Comments Yet!

You can be first to comment this post!

Leave a Reply