LAGOS/Nigeria: Headfort Foundation for Justice, a non-profit organisation providing pro bono services for wrongfully incarcerated persons, has extended its work to healthcare delivery with a medical outreach at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre in Lagos.
The initiative, tagged “Wellness Behind Bars”, was held on Tuesday with the support of the Development, Research and Project Centre (DRPC).
Speaking at the event, Miss Oluwakemi Adenekan, Programmes Manager at Headfort Foundation, said the outreach was designed to bridge the gap in healthcare access for inmates. She disclosed that more than 100 inmates benefitted from health checks, medical consultations, laboratory tests, and drug dispensation.
She explained that 75 inmates received glucose testing, while many others participated in mental health sessions tailored to address the psychological toll of incarceration.
“For us at Headfort Foundation, our work with wrongfully incarcerated individuals has shown that one of the biggest challenges inmates face is lack of access to basic healthcare. This is why we decided to extend our services beyond legal aid to also include medical and mental health interventions,” Adenekan said.
She noted that the mental health sessions introduced inmates to coping strategies and therapeutic practices that could help them while in custody.
According to her, mental health support remains critical, particularly for inmates wrongfully detained or struggling with prolonged incarceration.
“We are deeply grateful to DRPC for partnering with us on this initiative and to the Nigerian Correctional Service for providing the necessary support to ensure the success of this outreach,” she added.
Adenekan also commended Arogi Trauma Care for facilitating the mental health sessions.
She stressed that the initiative aligns with the Foundation’s broader mission of promoting justice, dignity, and well-being for inmates across Nigeria.
