By Our Reporter
The Rivers State Government has sealed six health facilities, including five hospitals and a patent medicine store, and arrested seven suspects over alleged involvement in child trafficking, illegal medical practice and other forms of medical quackery.
The crackdown followed a series of investigations conducted by the State Anti-Quackery Committee in collaboration with security agencies after receiving intelligence and complaints from members of the public.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee and Permanent Secretary-Designate of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said the affected facilities were found to be operating without the required licences and were staffed by unqualified personnel posing as healthcare professionals.
Wachukwu disclosed that some of the operators were carrying out surgical procedures, prescribing medications and administering treatments without professional qualifications, thereby endangering the lives of unsuspecting patients.
The health official, who was accompanied by the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Rivers State, Prof. Ureh Oparaodu, and the committee’s Co-Chairman, Dr. Hope Avundah, revealed that one of the most disturbing discoveries involved an alleged child trafficking operation uncovered at EL DONA Hospital in Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
According to him, investigations indicated that the proprietor of the facility, who allegedly operated without registration, was involved in a scheme in which mothers were deceived into believing their newborn babies had died during delivery, while the infants were allegedly trafficked and sold.
“Part of what we gathered from our investigation is that the operator was involved in child trafficking. Women came there to deliver, and she allegedly exchanged living babies with dead ones, informing mothers that their children had died during childbirth before selling the babies,” Wachukwu said.
He added that all staff members found at the facility were arrested and would face prosecution, while the state government would work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served.
The committee also sealed a patent medicine store in Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area, following allegations that its operator administered an injection to a 20-year-old girl, resulting in her death.
The deceased, according to Wachukwu, had recently completed secondary school, sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and was awaiting admission into a higher institution.
“The operator is currently at large, but efforts are ongoing to apprehend her, with support from members of the community,” he said.
Another facility shut down was PLARIV Hospital in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where investigators reportedly discovered that a non-medical practitioner was operating a hospital, conducting surgeries and running an unauthorised training programme for auxiliary nurses.
The committee said more than 60 trainees were found at the facility, which lacked registration and accreditation documents required by law.
Other facilities sealed include Good Shepherd Hospital in Omoku, Blessed GoodNews Clinic on Bonny Street, Port Harcourt, ESTATE Clinic in Okahia Estate, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, and the patent medicine store in Ndele.
Wachukwu noted that the government would continue its campaign against illegal healthcare practices, stressing that significant progress had been made in the past two years despite resistance from operators of illegal facilities.
He commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and members of the media for supporting the anti-quackery campaign.
The committee chairman further warned that any private hospital, religious organisation or non-governmental organisation intending to conduct medical outreach programmes in the state must obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Health.
He stressed that while the government welcomes genuine humanitarian health interventions, anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions.
“We have sealed six healthcare facilities and arrested seven suspects. We will not relent in our efforts because as we fight quackery, those involved also attempt to fight back. However, with the support of stakeholders, we are making significant progress in sanitising the health sector,” Wachukwu said.
