The Rivers State Ministry of Health has shut down 21 health facilities and arrested three persons in a fresh crackdown on quackery, unregistered medical practice, and other regulatory violations. The affected facilities, located in four local government areas, included eight hospitals, five maternity centres, and eight diagnostic centres. This move follows surveillance reports indicating that over 150 health facilities were operating without registration or supervision.
According to Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, Permanent Secretary of the ministry and Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee, the enforcement exercise aimed to address the widespread issue of unregistered health facilities. He disclosed that only about 20 per cent of registered health facilities were complying with the mandatory annual inspection and renewal of their Certificates of Standards. The ministry's efforts seek to ensure that health facilities meet the required standards.
The affected facilities included Manda Clinic, Elelenwo; Vasty Clinic, Omoku; Danny Clinic; Daba Clinic; Kambel Hospital, Abara-Etche; Havilla Hospital, Igwuruta; Golden Era Hospital, Igwuruta; and Ola-Oluwa Medical Centre, Igwuruta. Wachukwu stated that 19 of the 21 facilities sealed were operating without registration and below the minimum standards prescribed by the state government. One registered facility was also found to be operating below the required standard.
The ministry carried out a joint operation with the Rivers State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at Manda Clinic and Maternity in Elelenwo, following allegations of child trafficking. The operation followed a Liberian national's disclosure of procuring three children from the facility within a month. Investigations revealed that the facility was unregistered and operating without licensed medical practitioners.
At Havilla Hospital, Igwuruta, the ministry discovered that the facility was unregistered and operated by a man identified as Isaac, who claimed to have undergone medical training in Ukraine in 2013. However, Isaac had no licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and was practising without the required supervision. He was arrested and is expected to be referred to the MDCN for further action.
Ola-Oluwa Medical Centre was also sealed after its operator, identified as Sunday Ogundele, was allegedly found to have no medical training or licence. Ogundele, who reportedly operated the facility from his family residence, was arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution over alleged impersonation. Kambel Hospital and Golden Era Hospital were similarly shut after inspectors found that no licensed doctor or nurse was operating at the facilities.
The Rivers State Ministry of Health's crackdown on quack health facilities aims to ensure that health facilities meet the required standards, and those found to be operating illegally are brought to justice. The ministry's efforts will continue to focus on enforcing regulations and protecting the public from unqualified medical practitioners. The arrested individuals will face further action, including possible prosecution and referral to regulatory bodies.
Key points
- The Rivers State Ministry of Health shut down 21 health facilities and arrested three persons in a crackdown on quackery and unregistered medical practice.
- Only about 20 per cent of registered health facilities in Rivers State were complying with the mandatory annual inspection and renewal of their Certificates of Standards.
- The ministry carried out a joint operation with NAPTIP to investigate allegations of child trafficking at Manda Clinic and Maternity in Elelenwo.
