The Anambra State Government has closed over 30 illegal health facilities operated by quacks to safeguard residents’ health, according to Dr Afam Obidike, the state Commissioner for Health.
Dr. Obidike revealed this at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State Chapter, and the 5th Prof. Festus Nwako Memorial Lecture.
He stated that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration had established the State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency to combat quackery and eliminate illegal medical services.
“The issue of quackery is a major concern for the government, and we are doing all we can to eliminate it,” Obidike said. “So far, we have closed down over 30 health facilities in the state, and we discovered that the owners and operators of these hospitals are not even medical doctors.”
Obidike described how these quacks were exploiting people by performing surgeries and other medical procedures without proper qualifications, risking the lives of residents.
“These quacks were making so much money because they do not have a conscience. They were carrying out surgeries and toying with the health and lives of our people,” he stated.
The Commissioner appealed to the NMA to collaborate with the state government to eradicate quackery in the health sector, emphasizing the need to save lives and improve life expectancy.
“The state government is committed to improving healthcare delivery. We have commenced construction, renovation, and equipping of public hospitals across the state, as well as the massive recruitment of health workers to improve access to health services,” Obidike added.
