9th December, 2021
The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has shut down nine health facilities in the months of October and November 2021.
The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Abiola Idowu who disclosed this at a Sensitization and Advocacy Campaign on the Roles and Responsibilities of HEFAMAA held in Lagos Island, stated that six and three facilities were sealed in the months of October and November respectively.
She explained that the facilities were shut down for various infractions, including quackery, lack of qualified medical personnel, non-registration of facilities and lack of basic equipment, adding that “as soon as the infractions for which the facilities were sealed have been corrected, they will be reopened.”
Idowu, who was represented at the event by the Head of the Agency’s Monitoring Department, Dr. Olayinka Daniel explained that the campaign was aimed at keeping the public abreast of HEFAMAA’s responsibilities, programmes and activities as well as the State Government’s zero-tolerance for quackery to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of the citizens.
She added, “Through the awareness campaign, members of the public are also counselled on the need to expose quacks in the system who parade themselves as professionals thereby protecting the health of Lagosians.”
She advised the populace to be cautious and desist from patronizing healthcare providers whose facilities were without the Agency’s logo and Certificate of Registration, adding that they should report any suspicious healthcare facility to the Agency.
Idowu advised owners and operators of health facilities to ensure the completion of their registration with the Agency and also collect the official logo which should be displayed at a visible location in their premise where members of the public could easily see it.
She revealed that the agency would commence the franchise of its monitoring activities in 2022 to improve monitoring effectiveness in the healthcare system of the State.
Idowu said, “the Agency will not relax in its efforts to ensure that health facilities are operating within the ambit of the law in Lagos State.”
Some members of the public who spoke with the team thanked the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Agency for the sensitization initiative with a promise that they would continue to support the agency in its battle against quackery and unprofessional conducts in the State’s healthcare system.
The campaign, according to the Executive Secretary, had been held in Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe divisions and would also move to Ikeja division soonest.
The campaign team visited community leaders, including Chairmen of Community Development Committees, Lagos Island Local Government and Lagos Island East, Primary Healthcare Centers as well as General Hospitals in Lagos Island among other public places.