25th April, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor
The Rivers Ministry of Health in the company of the members of the State branch of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA has sealed three health facilities for operating without requisite approval and professional negligence.
Two of the health facilities are St. Charles Surgery in Akiama Community and Ndukwe Clinic on Macaulay Street in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State
Officers of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, were accompanied by the Rivers State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ebbi Robinson, to seal up the facilities.
This decision was made public in a statement signed by the Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State, Dr. Hope Avundaa.
The statement made reference to a viral video where a woman was seen complaining of how her husband died.
It said that the lady claimed that her husband was taken to St. Charles’ Surgery for an emergency case where staff of the Clinic insisted on deposit of N40,000 before treatment will commence and another payment of N2,000 for registration.
All of those payments were done, the statement said, but the staff of the clinic still refused to act promptly to the emergency situation before them and watched their patient die.
The statement affirmed that the claims in the video had been thoroughly investigated and confirmed to be true that there was professional negligence of duty by the management of the hospital.
Also, the statement pointed out that, the Ndukwe Clinic located at Store 2, Macaulay Plaza was confirmed to be an unregistered health facility operating illegally, in Bonny Island, Bonny Local Government Area.
The statement said: “The hospital is reportedly run by Dr. Onum Ndukwe and some auxiliary nurses, who carry out substandard medical activities, in a 2-room shoplet in a shopping plaza.
“Our investigation also revealed a poor sanitary environment, poor waste disposal methods and no IPC standards”.
“The facility was operating without registration and approval from the Rivers State Ministry of Health. Investigation is currently on to verify the professional status and qualification of the culprit.”
According to the statement, Rivers State Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State will keep pace with activities that will rid the State of the menace of medical quackery.
This comes days after another hospital, Divine Love, was sealed off in Rumuodara, Obio-Akpor Local government area.
The sealing of Divine Love Hospital was revealed in a joint press briefing on Wednesday, by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mrs Adaeze Oreh who added that plans are underway to also inaugurate an Anti-Quackery Committee.
Also, the State Director of Medical Services, Vincent Nwachukwu, spoke on the need for the registration of medical facilities in state before they become operational.
.