The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that there are no cases of Mpox in its 256 custodial centres across the country.
Abubakar Umar, Assistant Controller of Corrections (ACC) and Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), made this known in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
According to reports that Nigeria reported 48 mpox cases across 19 states and the FCT, with no deaths recorded, according to the NCDC.
On Aug. 27, Nigeria received 10,000 vaccine doses from the U.S. government to control the outbreak.
While Nigeria has previously handled isolated cases of the virus, the current outbreak has escalated the situation, necessitating a more pressing and concerted response.
Umar, however, attributed the service’s success to the proactive measures taken to prevent the outbreak of diseases, including ensuring compliance with medical directives, robust sanitation systems, and adequate water supply.
He also disclosed that the service was also working in synergy with state governments and the Ministry of Health to prevent the outbreak of Mpox in all the custodial centres in Nigeria.
According to him, one of the things that cannot be taken away with the NCoS is the proactive steps taken to actually prevent outbreaks of any diseases in our custodial centres.
Umar affirmed that the progressive changes evident at the NCoS were the result of deliberate efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the neglect of the past.
