By George OPARA
Rivers State Ministry of Health anti-quackery committee has sealed six healthcare facilities and arrested seven over allegations of medical quackery, impersonation, illegal surgeries, child trafficking and operation of unregistered health institutions across the state.
Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, the ministry’s acting permanent secretary disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the anti-quackery enforcement exercise in collaboration with key healthcare regulatory bodies.
Wachukwu said the affected facilities were found to be operating in violation of established healthcare standards, with some allegedly conducting surgeries without qualified personnel and training unlicensed individuals as nurses.
Among the facilities shutdown is PLARIV Hospital on Kreigeni Road, Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
Spear News Nigeria gathered the facility was a 10-bed hospital allegedly operated by Mr. Philip Anjul, an unlicensed medical practitioner from Plateau State.
But discrete checks uncovered that surgeries were being conducted without proper training or licence, while the facility was also allegedly training about 60 unqualified nurses.
Consequently, the hospital was sealed, its registration and Certificate of Standards revoked, and the proprietor arrested for prosecution.
Also, Good Shepherd Hospital on Nkaru Street, Omoku, was sealed after its operator, Mr. Onanefe Sagoh, allegedly practised medicine using a fake Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria licence.
The ministry said the facility held surgeries without requisite qualifications and operated a training programme for about 20 quack nurses. Sagoh was arrested and is expected to face charges bordering on impersonation and certificate forgery.
Again, the ministry shut down Blessed Goodnews Clinic on Bonny Street in Port Harcourt after discovering that it operated with a rented medical licence. The facility was reportedly managed by a non-medical practitioner identified as Mr. Atisi, who was absent during the inspection
Further, officials alleged that admitted patients had not received medical reviews or treatment plans after 48 hours and that surgeries were performed by unlicensed personnel.
It was further revealed that the clinic, which allegedly trained 25 quack nurses, was sealed, while a warrant of arrest was issued for the proprietor. Doctors linked to the rented certificates will also face investigation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Not done. At Estate Clinic in Okahia Estate, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, ministry officials discovered an unregistered facility allegedly operated by unlicensed health workers.
The clinic was also accused of reopening after previously being sealed by the ministry. All staff members were arrested and the facility shut down.
In Emohua Local Government Area, a patent medicine store in Ndele was sealed following allegations that its operator, Mrs. Christain, administered injectable medication to a 26-year-old woman whose death was subsequently reported. The operator has been summoned through community leaders for further investigation.
Yet, the ministry sealed EL Dona Hospital in Obio/Akpor over allegations of operating without registration and involvement in child trafficking. All staff members at the facility were arrested for prosecution.
Dr. Wachukwu who hailed the healthcare facilities operating within the standards prescribed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sanitising the state’s healthcare system.
He averred that the enforcement exercise forms part of the ongoing anti-quackery campaign being undertaken by the Rivers State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association and other healthcare professional bodies to improve healthcare delivery and protect residents from unqualified practitioners.
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