The Rivers State Government has sealed 21 health facilities and arrested three persons for allegedly operating without registration and failing to meet the minimum standards prescribed by the state Ministry of Health.

The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed this on Monday in Port Harcourt during the ministry’s Anti-Quackery Committee third-quarter press briefing.

Wachukwu said the enforcement exercise followed surveillance operations which identified more than 150 health facilities operating without registration or proper supervision across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas.

He expressed concern over the low level of compliance among registered facilities, saying only about 20 per cent had complied with the mandatory annual inspection and renewal of their certificates of standards.

According to him, the facilities affected by the latest enforcement action comprised eight hospitals, five maternity homes and eight diagnostic centres.

“Now a total of 21 health facilities were shut down with three persons arrested for prosecution by the Ministry of Health across the local government areas.

“Nineteen of them were operating without registration and below minimum standard of the Ministry of Health. One facility was registered by the Ministry of Health but even after registration was still operating below minimum standard,” he said.

Wachukwu added that officials found one of the facilities without a licensed doctor or any other qualified health worker during inspection.

Some of the facilities sealed during the exercise include Manda Hospital at Elelenwo, Vasty Clinic in Omoku, Danny Clinic in Port Harcourt Township, Havilla Hospital in Igwuruta, Kambel Hospital at Abara Etche, Golden Era Hospital in Igwuruta and Ola Oluwa Hospital in Igwuruta.

Suspected child trafficking uncovered

The permanent secretary said the inspection of Manda Hospital in Igwuruta also uncovered what the ministry described as suspected child trafficking activities.

He said a Liberian national allegedly disclosed that three children had been procured from the facility within a month.

According to Wachukwu, the facility was operating without registration and had no licensed medical practitioners.

He said operators of the facility were arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, while the premises were sealed.

Unlicensed practitioner arrested

Wachukwu also disclosed that a man identified as Isaac, who operated Havilla Hospital in Igwuruta, was arrested after allegedly claiming to have been trained as a doctor in Ukraine without obtaining a licence to practise medicine in Nigeria.

He said Isaac had been conducting free medical outreaches despite operating an unregistered facility and lacking accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

“He was arrested and will also be referred to Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,” Wachukwu said.

Similarly, the operator of Ola Oluwa Medical Centre in Igwuruta, identified as Sunday Ogundele, was arrested for allegedly impersonating a medical practitioner.

Wachukwu said Ogundele had no formal medical training but was operating the facility from his family residence.

“He has been arrested and handed over to Nigerian Police Force for prosecution for impersonation while his facility was sealed,” he said.

The permanent secretary further said the owner of Kambel Hospital in Abara Etche and Golden Era Hospital in Igwuruta was arrested after inspectors found that neither facility had licensed doctors, nurses or other qualified health professionals.

Ministry engages maternity operator

Wachukwu said the ministry also inspected Serah Maternity at Belema Polo in Enugu Waterfront, Port Harcourt Township, but opted for corrective measures rather than immediately shutting down the facility.

He said the operator, whom he described as a social media influencer, had received some training and had attracted a large number of women seeking her services.

Rather than close the facility, the ministry directed her to undergo further training and obtain the required licences.

Wachukwu explained that traditional birth attendants still had a role to play in maternal healthcare but warned that they must operate within clearly defined limits and refer cases beyond their capacity to qualified medical facilities.

“They have their role to play and the state government has also played a role to ensure that they are trained and will continue training them to render proper service.

“But our goal is to ensure that they don’t cross the red line. They should know where they are supposed to stop and refer to a hospital for proper management so that they won’t be killing our mothers,” he said.

The permanent secretary said 16 other facilities sealed during the exercise were found to be unregistered and operating below the minimum standards stipulated under the Rivers State Facility Registration Act No. 2 of 2019.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare regulation and eliminating quackery, saying the enforcement campaign would continue against unregistered facilities and establishments operated by unqualified personnel.

Wachukwu urged residents to report suspicious health facilities and individuals offering medical services without the necessary qualifications or licences.

He also advised residents to verify the registration status of health facilities before seeking treatment.

“We mandate all registered facilities to display their certificate of standards at the reception of their facilities. This will enable you and I to know when you enter a facility, if this facility is actually registered by the Rivers State Ministry of Health,” he said.