HEFAMAA takes health campaign to Mushin, targets unlicensed facilities

The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has called on residents of Mushin Local Government to prioritise their health and safety by visiting only accredited health facilities registered under the agency.

Speaking during a Sensitisation Campaign and Town Hall Meeting themed “The Roles and Responsibilities of HEFAMAA in Lagos State” held in Mushin on Thursday, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abiola Idowu, represented by Dr. Olorunfemi Olonire, Director of Research and Statistics, said the event aimed to educate residents on how to identify approved health centres that meet state standards.

“The essence of today’s town hall meeting is to sensitise the Mushin community on the role of HEFAMAA and how residents can safeguard their health by accessing care from facilities duly registered with the agency,” Idowu said.

She explained that all registered facilities display the HEFAMAA logo and registration certificate, as well as a QR code that allows patients to verify the legitimacy of the facility and send feedback directly to the agency.

“By scanning the QR code on their phones, clients can access details about the facility and help us evaluate compliance with quality standards,” she added.

Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon. Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe, commended the initiative, describing it as “an eye-opener” for residents.

“This programme helps us know which hospitals are safe to use, apart from the general ones. People can now identify private hospitals approved by HEFAMAA so that they don’t fall victim to fake practitioners. We have told our community leaders to spread this message to the grassroots,” Aruwe said.

Also speaking, Mr. Richard Olusanya, Chief Nutrition Officer at HEFAMAA, traced the agency’s establishment to 2006, noting that its mandate is to regulate and monitor hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, and other health facilities across Lagos State.

“HEFAMAA sets standards in key areas such as equipment, personnel, and environment. If you are running a hospital, the person in charge must be a qualified medical doctor or nurse. We don’t want one person treating eyes, teeth, and every other ailment — that’s how people fall victim to quackery,” he said.

Olusanya further explained that the agency conducts biannual inspections to ensure facilities comply with laid-down standards and clarified that clinics are not designed to operate 24 hours like hospitals.

He urged all public and private health providers to display their registration certificates prominently to assure patients of their legitimacy.

“Once you scan the HEFAMAA code, you’ll see the facility’s name, address, and owner. You can also send your feedback directly to us. We want people to share this information across communities and associations to promote safe healthcare practices,” he said.

The town hall meeting attracted health professionals, community leaders, and residents, all of whom pledged to support HEFAMAA’s mission of eliminating quackery and ensuring quality healthcare delivery in Lagos State.