The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has partnered with the Diatom Impact Foundation to donate sanitary towels to all female inmates across Nigerian Correctional Service facilities, as part of efforts to promote menstrual hygiene and women’s health within correctional centres.

In a release by the NMA Publicity Secretary, Dr. Mannir Bature, on Wednesday, the initiative followed recent findings by a Senate investigative panel, which identified poor menstrual hygiene among female inmates as a pressing concern. Responding to this, the NMA took up the challenge through advocacy and partnership with Dr. Akindele Akintoye, founder of Diatom Impact Foundation.

The NMA delegation, led by its President, Dr. Bala M. Audu, who was represented by the First Vice President, Dr. Benjamin Oluwatosin Olowojebutu joined the Diatom Impact team led by Dr. Akindele Akintoye on a courtesy visit to the National Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Abuja. The delegation was warmly received by the Controller-General of the NCS, Sylvester Nwakuche, and his management team.

During the visit, the NMA highlighted its ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives and reaffirmed its commitment to improving health and well-being across all social sectors. The association also announced plans, in partnership with Diatom Impact Foundation, to deploy mental health personnel and psychiatrists to correctional centres nationwide to provide psychological support for inmates.

In his remarks, Dr. Akintoye emphasised the importance of philanthropy as an expression of humanity, pledging to sustain his foundation’s humanitarian projects and expand them in the future. He noted that Diatom Impact would fully sponsor the mental health initiative in correctional facilities across the country.

Responding, the NCS Controller-General appreciated both organisations for their thoughtful intervention and expressed readiness for future collaborations aimed at improving inmate welfare and transforming correctional facilities into truly rehabilitative environments.

The visit concluded with an exchange of plaques and group photographs to commemorate the partnership and donation exercise.

The NMA also said it will kick off a monthly psychiatric evaluation for all prison inmates across the country from November 2025.

NMA Vice President, Dr Olowojebutu, disclosed this during Wednesday’s visit to the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Nwakuze.

Olowojebutu said the psychiatric evaluation would ensure that every inmate had access to mental health tools, while the sanitary pad donation aimed to promote the dignity and wellbeing of female inmates.

“Today marks a great day for me personally, in July, we met with the investigative panel and heard touching revelations about the condition of inmates, especially the hygiene of women. I made a vow that day that NMA would provide sanitary pads to support them,” he said.

He noted that the association’s findings also showed that inmates required consistent psychological support and psychiatric assessment to aid rehabilitation.

“With our continued collaboration with the NCoS, we are confident that the lives of inmates; both male and female will improve.

“We have agreed, together with our partners at Diatom Impact/Platform Capital, to continue being our brothers’ keepers”.

In his response, NCoS Controller-General, Nwakuche, commended the NMA for its commitment to improving the welfare of inmates and for sustaining its partnership with the Service.

He said the NMA’s donation and its pledge to provide ongoing medical and mental health support showed sincerity and professionalism.

Nwakuche also praised Diatom Impact/Platform Capital for building an incubation centre at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, where inmates are receiving training and certification in digital skills, including Cisco programmes.

“Our inmates are not the dregs of society, They come from all walks of life and deserve opportunities for rehabilitation.

“We must continue to involve NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians in making life better and more meaningful for them”.

On his part, Chairman of Diatom Impact/Platform Capital, Dr. Akintoye, said that supporting inmates was a moral obligation, as many found themselves in prison due to circumstances beyond their control.

“Everybody deserves dignity, hope, and a chance at life. It’s an honour to partner with the NMA because they are the real heroes doing the work of nation-building. We must focus on positive stories and support good initiatives that uplift our society,” Akintoye said.

Speaking further, he warned that inmates should not be treated as outcasts but as citizens deserving of respect and rehabilitation.

“Prisoners are human beings first,” he said, adding that: “They are in correctional facilities to learn and become better. We must build a country that treats every life with dignity.”