By Ebi Kesiena
A growing outbreak of scabies has been reported among inmates at the Afokang Medium Security Custodial Centre in Calabar, raising serious health concerns within the overcrowded facility.
Speaking anonymously to the News Agency of Nigeria during a visit on Tuesday, an official at the centre revealed that the skin infection is rapidly spreading, affecting a large number of inmates due to poor living conditions and a lack of medical supplies.
“Scabies has now overtaken malaria and typhoid as the biggest health challenge in the centre,” the official said. “You only need to look at the inmates, many are covered in rashes and constantly scratching, but we have no medication in the clinic to treat them.”
Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It spreads easily in crowded environments, making correctional facilities particularly vulnerable. Infected individuals suffer intense itching, skin rashes, and blistering, which worsen without proper treatment.
The official further lamented the deplorable condition of the prison clinic, which is reportedly empty of essential drugs and medical supplies. He appealed to public-spirited individuals, NGOs, and health agencies to intervene and donate medicines to help curb the outbreak.
“Right now, the clinic is empty. We are pleading with anyone who can help us get drugs, especially for scabies. The health of the inmates is deteriorating by the day,” he added.
Overcrowding is another major concern. The centre, originally built to accommodate 450 inmates, currently houses 629, almost 180 more than its capacity. Over 400 of these inmates are still awaiting trial, further straining the facility’s limited resources and increasing the risk of infections spreading quickly.
The official also criticised the lack of transparency and accountability from politicians who claim to have supported the centre but whose interventions, he said, are not visible on the ground.
“Many times, politicians announce they have donated to the centre, but when you look around, you don’t see any of the things they claim to have done,” he said.
