The Rivers State Government has sealed 21 health facilities and arrested three operators for allegedly running unregistered centres and failing to meet the state’s minimum healthcare standards.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed this during the ministry’s third-quarter anti-quackery briefing in Port Harcourt.
According to him, more than 150 health facilities were monitored across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas. He said only about 20 per cent of registered facilities complied with the mandatory annual inspection and renewal of their certificates.
The sealed facilities comprised eight hospitals, five maternity homes and eight diagnostic centres. Nineteen were reportedly operating without registration and below the required standards, while another registered facility was found operating without licensed medical personnel.
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The ministry also raised concerns over alleged child trafficking at one of the facilities, while some operators were arrested for alleged impersonation and practising without the required professional licences.
Wachukwu warned unregistered health facilities and unqualified practitioners to stop operating, stressing that the government would continue its anti-quackery campaign to protect residents and improve healthcare safety across the state.
He urged members of the public to report suspicious health facilities and advised residents to check for a valid Rivers State Ministry of Health certificate of standards before seeking treatment.
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