NGO wants free treatment for prison inmates

A Non-governmental organisation, Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, (CURE-Nigeria), has called on the Federal Ministry of Health, to ensure that prison inmates are given free medical attention in public hospitals.
 
Executive Director of the group, Mr. Sylvester Uhaa, made the call after the group visited some prisons, where it discovered hospitals now demand full payments from prison authorities before inmates receive treatment.
 
He regretted that prison officials make personal contributions so as to pay for inmates treatments, even when they were life threatening.Uhaa maintained that just as the Federal Government has the obligation to provide food and welfare services for inmates, it also has a duty to provide inmates access to quality health services.
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“Prisoners should enjoy the same standard of healthcare that are available in the community, and should have access to necessary healthcare services free of charge without discrimination on the grounds of their legal status.