- …unveils nationwide mental health support for inmates
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), in collaboration with Diatom Impact and Platform Capital, has donated reusable sanitary pads to all female inmates across Nigeria’s correctional facilities and pledged weekly psychiatric and psychological care for inmates nationwide.
The association said the initiative became necessary because inmates’ health should not be neglected, as they remain part of society and will eventually reintegrate into it.
It also emphasized that the well-being of caregivers and other Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) personnel must not be overlooked, since they need to stay healthy to provide adequate care for the inmates.
The 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Oluwatosin Olowojebutu, spoke in Abuja on Wednesday when he led a delegation of the association to the office of the NCS Controller, Sylvester Nwakuche, who described the gesture as an act of compassion and partnership that restores dignity to persons in custody.
The group donated 4,000 packs of reusable sanitary pads to about 1,500 female inmates across correctional facilities nationwide and launched a weekly psychiatric and psychological care programme for inmates across the country.
Olowojebutu said the gesture reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting the Correctional Service through sustained healthcare delivery, mental health support, and hygiene interventions across all facilities.
He said the new plan would ensure that doctors visit each correctional centre at least once a week to attend to inmates and staff, ending years of irregular medical access caused by funding challenges.
“In the past, doctors had to travel up to 75 kilometers to reach some facilities without support. With this incentive provided by Dr Akindele, doctors now have transport and stipends to sustain the visits,” he explained.
According to Olowojebutu, the partnership marks a turning point in ensuring regular, structured healthcare delivery within correctional institutions.
“It’s sustainable now because there’s a funding component attached, and doctors are happy to give their time,” he said.
A member of the delegation, Dr. Akintoye Akindele, the Chairman of Diatom Impact and Platform Capital, who is funding the weekly outreach logistics, said the initiative represents the enduring spirit of compassion and unity that binds Nigerians.
“Yes, there are challenges in the community, and all of us have been victims in one way or another. But this is our country; it is our home. And if it’s our home, we must take care of it,” he said.
The philanthropist praised the leadership of the Correctional Service for transforming facilities into centres of learning and rehabilitation.
“You see a regulator that is human, empathetic, and visionary. You see an association of doctors whose core is compassion. Why won’t we support that? Everyone deserves dignity, hope, and a chance at life,” he said.
Akindele urged Nigerians to focus on positive developments that show progress, not just failures, saying, “There is greatness happening in Nigeria in every corner. Let’s tap into it and stop amplifying only the negatives. Let’s tell stories that move the nation forward”.
The NCS CG Nwakuche, described the donation of 4,000 reusable sanitary pads and the launch of a nationwide mental health initiative by NMA as a major step toward improving the health and welfare of inmates across the country.
He commended the association’s consistency and sincerity in fulfilling its commitments, noting that the reusable pads would meet a critical need among female inmates while promoting sustainability and dignity.
“It’s sustainable, cost-effective, and dignifying,” he said.
Nwakuche also hailed the plan to introduce psychiatric evaluations and therapy sessions for inmates nationwide as “A huge breakthrough in ensuring mental well-being,” adding that the initiative would be scaled up to the Ministry level.
He emphasized that inmates are citizens deserving of care and reintegration, saying, “People in our custodial facilities are not the dregs of society. Anybody can find themselves in custody, even for a brief mistake.”
The CG further commended Dr. Akintoye Akindele, whose organization built a Cisco-certified innovation centre at Kuje Correctional Facility, “Our inmates now have Cisco certification from America.
“Other agencies are using the same facility for training. This is the kind of silent transformation happening in the Service,” Nwakuche said, describing the NMA-Diatom collaboration as one that addresses both the physical and psychological dimensions of inmate welfare.
The CG also endorsed Akindele’s proposal for a quarterly retreat for senior officers to strengthen policy review and service delivery.
