By: Felix Ikpotor
The Rivers State Ministry of Health says it has sealed additional eight health facilities for various offences including including operating below standard and without registration.
The ministry said the action followed it’s Health Facility Inspection and Enforcement Drive for the month of October.
It also said during the exercise, four persons were arrested for prosecution for quackery, impersonation and operating unregistered facilities.
Highlight of the exercise according to the ministry was the discovery of an illegal health facility operating within a residential compound at no. 27 Victoria Street were a suspected quack by name Mr Ataisi Jephtha and Mrs Mgboawaji Edwin where apprehended on table while attempting a thyroidectomy on an unsuspecting victim. Mr Ataisi Jephtha who parades as a surgeon and his accomplice were immediately arrested while the facility was sealed up.
The ministry stated that five other hospitals and two laboratory centers were also shutdown during the exercise for operating below the minimum standards and without registration.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health and Chairman of the State Anti-Quackery Committee, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, while speaking on the operation, warned that licensed practitioners operating in unregistered and substandard facilities are also liable to penalties as prescribed by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) guidelines.
PH Spectator reports that just last week, the ministry reported that it also sealed 21 health facilities for various offences including child-traficking in various parts of the state.
