HEFAMAA charges Lagos residents to expose quack health facilities

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has called on Lagos residents to be more vigilant and report illegal or substandard health facilities operating within their neighbourhoods.

Speaking during a sensitisation and town hall meeting at Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Dr. Olorunfemi Olonire, Director of Research and Statistics at HEFAMAA, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abiola Idowu, said the agency was intensifying efforts to ensure that every Lagos resident has access to safe and quality healthcare.

“We are here to remind our people that healthcare regulation is not the responsibility of government alone,” Olonire said.

“Community participation is vital. If you see a clinic, maternity home, or health centre operating under unsafe conditions, don’t keep quiet, report it to HEFAMAA,” he added.

He explained that HEFAMAA officers had been educating residents on how to identify duly registered health facilities and how to verify those that are operating legally.

“Our duty is to ensure that all health facilities in Lagos meet the minimum standards of safety and quality,” he said.

“But we also rely on the vigilance of the public. The community must serve as our eyes and ears.”

Olonire revealed that the agency had received feedback from the Amuwo Odofin community about the difficulty of accessing safe and affordable healthcare in the riverine areas of the state.

“A very critical concern was raised about the challenges faced by residents in riverine communities,” he said, saying “We have taken note of this and will communicate it to our Permanent Secretary, who will in turn brief the Honourable Commissioner for Health. We believe the matter will reach the Governor for appropriate intervention.”

He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to bridging healthcare disparities and ensuring that no community is left behind.

“The Sanwo-Olu administration is determined to make quality healthcare accessible to every Lagosian — whether on the mainland, the island, or the riverine belt. We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and local governments to make this a reality,” he said.

The sensitisation exercise is part of HEFAMAA’s ongoing campaign to promote public awareness about healthcare regulation, curb quackery, and strengthen citizens’ confidence in the state’s health system.