Rivers cracks down on illegal medical facilities

The Rivers State government has shut down six illegal medical facilities operating in the state, citing unauthorised operations and unethical practices.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, revealed the closures during a media briefing. She expressed concern over the facilities being run by unlicensed and unqualified individuals who were performing surgeries without proper facilities or supervision. Worryingly, these individuals were also training others to engage in illegal medical practices.

The closed facilities include Parley Hospital and Maternity in Ogale, Success Maternity and Noble Life Maternity and Computer Test, both in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area.

Also shut down were Futurist Medical Centre in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Council, Godbless Hospital in Kom-kom, and ASHA Specialist Hospital in Afam, Oyigbo Local Council.

Oreh stressed the serious danger posed by these unqualified practitioners to the health and lives of Rivers State residents. She noted a trend of these facilities operating outside the state capital, possibly to avoid detection by authorities.

The Commissioner used the briefing to reiterate the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards quacks and unregistered facilities. She urged all unregistered facilities to contact the Rivers State Ministry of Health for registration requirements and warned medical professionals against colluding with unqualified practitioners.

Oreh also cautioned pharmacies against providing consultation services and administering intravenous medications, practices that fall outside their legal scope.