26th November, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has shut over 100 health facilities across Lagos State between January and November 2024 due to quackery and other violations.
This was disclosed by the agency’s Executive Secretary, Dr Idowu Abiola, on Tuesday during a four-day monitoring, sensitisation, and enforcement exercise in the Badagry area of Lagos.
As part of the activities, Abiola and her team inspected the Badagry General Hospital and visited the Palace of the Oba Akran of Badagry, De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi I.
The visit aimed to inform the monarch about the agency’s objectives and the importance of their sensitisation and enforcement efforts in the area.
Abiola noted that the incidence of quackery had declined due to the agency’s intensified monitoring efforts, including outsourcing inspections to reputable organisations.
She said, “We have shut down not less than 100 facilities this year for failing to meet required standards. Given Badagry’s distance from the city centre, we needed to ensure our presence was felt. Reports of quackery prompted us to intervene swiftly, even at odd hours, to close substandard facilities.
“We have also observed a rise in facilities training unqualified nurses, which needs to be curtailed if we want to improve healthcare services in Lagos State.
“We encourage the residents of Badagry to patronise only government-recognised facilities displaying our logo. If they are dissatisfied with services received, they can report to us for prompt action.”
Abiola emphasised the agency’s resolve to make a strong impact in Badagry.
She explained that the sensitisation campaign, running from 26th to 29th November, aimed to inspect earmarked facilities, enforce compliance with standards, and shut down substandard establishments.
“It was necessary to inform the Oba Akran and his baales before commencing these activities to avoid misunderstandings about the agency’s operations in his domain,” she added.
Assessment of Badagry General Hospital
Commenting on the state of the Badagry General Hospital, Abiola said the team was impressed with the improvements observed.
“The hospital is clean, and the overall ambience has significantly improved. We can see that the governor has invested heavily in this facility, enhancing both staffing and infrastructure. It is evident that progress has been made compared to its previous state,” she remarked.
The Medical Director of Badagry General Hospital, Dr Olatunde Bakare, expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary of HEFAMAA, Abiola, and her team for their surprise visit and thorough assessment of the hospital.
Speaking after the evaluation, Bakare acknowledged the agency’s objective approach and commended the recognition of the hospital’s significant progress.
“We are pleased that HEFAMAA has rated Badagry General Hospital as the most improved health facility they have assessed. Their evaluation has been both unbiased and comprehensive, and we are grateful for their visit,” he said.
Bakare noted that while no facility could be entirely flawless, HEFAMAA had identified a few areas for improvement during the visit.
“As with any examination, no one scores 100 percent. The Executive Secretary has pointed out a few issues, which I consider low-hanging fruits, and has tasked us with addressing them within the next six weeks,” he added.
The hospital’s leadership expressed readiness to implement the recommended adjustments promptly, further reinforcing its commitment to providing quality healthcare services to residents of Badagry and surrounding areas.
During a visit to the Palace of Oba De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi I, Akran of Badagry, Chief Adeoye Sittin, the Baale of Tohon, called for enhanced training and professionalism in the healthcare sector, particularly in general hospitals.
At Oba Akran’s Palace
Chief Sittin emphasised the need for well-trained personnel to ensure effective service delivery, adding that private sector involvement must meet minimum qualification standards.
“For general hospitals to function effectively, we need personnel who are properly trained. If the private sector is brought in, it is essential they meet the required qualifications,” he said.
He lauded HEFAMAA’s efforts in addressing healthcare challenges and expressed the palace’s willingness to support government initiatives to boost public confidence in the system.
“The Oba’s Palace is committed to complementing government efforts to instill confidence in the healthcare system. Quality delivery isn’t about showing strength but about having the right knowledge to coordinate services,” he noted.
Sittin advocated for a “carrot and stick” approach, suggesting that healthcare providers be given opportunities for training and retraining to improve their skills.
“If done properly, it opens up opportunities for continuous training. We urge the government to adopt a balanced approach—training healthcare providers on how to deliver better services while ensuring the Badagry environment is sanitised,” he added.
The palace welcomed HEFAMAA’s presence in Badagry, expressing optimism that their activities would lead to improved healthcare standards in the area.
