The Rivers State Government has shut down 21 health facilities and arrested three individuals over alleged operation without proper registration and failure to meet the minimum standards set 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 briefing.
Wachukwu said the enforcement followed surveillance activities that identified more than 150 health facilities operating without registration or adequate supervision across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas.
He expressed concern over poor compliance with the mandatory annual inspection and renewal of certificates of standards, noting that only about 20 per cent of registered facilities had complied with the requirement.
According to him, the 21 facilities shut down comprised eight hospitals, five maternity homes and eight diagnostic centres.
He said 19 of the facilities were neither registered nor operating at the minimum standards prescribed by the ministry. Another facility had been registered but was still found operating below the required standard, with no licensed doctor or other qualified health worker present during inspection.
Among the facilities sealed were Manda Hospital, Vasty Clinic, Danny Clinic, Havilla Hospital, Kambel Hospital, Golden Era Hospital and Ola Oluwa Hospital.
Wachukwu said one of the facilities in Igwuruta was also linked to an alleged child trafficking operation. He said a Liberian national reportedly disclosed that three children had been procured from the facility within a month.
The facility was allegedly operating without registration or licensed medical personnel. Its operators were arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), while the premises were shut.
The permanent secretary also disclosed that an operator of Havilla Hospital, identified as Isaac, claimed to have trained as a doctor in Ukraine since 2013 but could not produce a licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
He said the man had been conducting free medical outreaches despite operating an unregistered facility and without the required professional licence. He was arrested and is expected to be referred to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Another facility, Ola Oluwa Medical Centre, was allegedly being run by Sunday Ogundele, who the ministry said had no medical training. Ogundele was arrested and handed over to the police for alleged impersonation, while the facility was sealed.
Wachukwu added that Kambel Hospital and Golden Era Hospital were found without licensed doctors, nurses or other qualified health professionals. The owner was arrested and both facilities were shut.
However, the ministry adopted a different approach toward Serah Maternity, Belema Polo, in Enugu Waterfront, Port Harcourt Township.
The operator, described as a social media influencer with some training and a significant number of women seeking her services, was warned and directed to undergo additional training and obtain the necessary licences.
Wachukwu explained that the decision was informed by the role traditional birth attendants can play in maternal healthcare, provided they operate within their limits and refer cases requiring medical attention to qualified hospitals.
He said another 16 facilities were also sealed for operating without registration and failing to meet the minimum standards under the Rivers State Facility Registration Act No. 2 of 2019.
The permanent secretary reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to tackling quackery and strengthening healthcare regulation across the state.
He urged residents to report suspected unregistered health facilities and unqualified medical practitioners to the appropriate authorities.
Wachukwu also advised registered healthcare facilities to prominently display their certificates of standards at their reception areas, allowing patients to verify whether a facility is duly approved by the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
