NGO restates commitment to inmates’ well-being, freedom
A Non-govermental Organization, Breath of Freedom Foundation (BFF) has restated its commitment towards ensuring prison inmates enjoy sound health and get expedite access to freedom in line with its set mandate.
This was made known over the weekend when the Foundation’s team and volunteers carried out a free medical exercise on female inmates at Suleja Prisons.
Speaking at the event Mr Abdulrauf Tijani Aboki, a legal practitioner, who represented the Chairman Board of Trustees, Mr Tony Ekwoaba, said the NGO’s mandate is aimed at promoting inmate rehabilitation and release.
Aboki said the organisation carries out its mandate through reforms, skills, trainings and capacity building, medical outreach, human right monitoring, care and support services.
According to him, the organisation is committed to promoting quality healthcare for inmates.
He said: “What informed the decision is the passion to ensure that the prison is reformed.
“We are stepping in to provide free legal and medical counselling to inmates. We want to join hands with the government to ensure the health of the inmates and their general welfare is in order.”
On his part, the head medicals of the NGO, Dr David Ikeonwu, said it was imperative that government invest more in the health of inmates.
“One of the commonest things we see here is itching and vagina discharge, which is as a result of poor hygiene.
“That is something that In continuation of its fight against Malaria and as part of activities marking this year’s World Malaria Day, Reckitt Benckiser (RB), makers of Mortein insecticide, has joined forces with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP), Lagos and Abia States to scale up action on the elimination of malaria in Nigeria.
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Director, RB West Africa, Leferink Aliza in a statement described the collaboration as part of the numerous activities by the Company to end need to be curbed, looking at the environment as well, it needs to be improved upon, the wellbeing of the inmates need to be given so much consideration.
“It is to this effect that we have decided to collaborate with government efforts to ensure that the inmates are in good health.
“One of the commonest things that happen to females is Urinary Tracks Infection (UTI), this is as a result of the toilets they use. If we could create more rest rooms for them, that will as well help them,” he said. the prevalence of malaria scourge in Nigeria and Africa at large.
She said the partnership with the State and Federal Governments, which has been on-going for years, further demonstrates the company’s efforts and commitment at different levels in the fight to ensure a malaria free country.
According to her, the theme of this year’s WMD ‘Zero Malaria starts with Me’ challenges all Nigerians to make commitment to saving lives and helping communities to thrive by ending malaria.