Rivers govt seals eight health facilities, arrests four

Rivers State Ministry of Health sealed eight health facilities and arrested four people for alleged quackery, impersonation, and operating unregistered facilities during its October inspection and enforcement exercise.

The highlight of the exercise was the discovery of an illegal health facility operating in a residential compound at No. 27 Victoria Street, where two suspects, identified as Mr Ataisi Jephtha and Mrs Mgboawaji Edwin, were allegedly apprehended while attempting to perform a thyroidectomy on an unsuspecting patient.

The ministry said Jephtha, who allegedly paraded himself as a surgeon, and his accomplice were immediately arrested, while the facility was sealed.

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The ministry also shut down five other hospitals and two laboratory centres for operating below the required minimum standards and without registration.

The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, warned that licensed medical practitioners operating in unregistered or substandard facilities would also face penalties in line with the guidelines of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

He urged health practitioners to comply with the relevant regulatory requirements, warning that the ministry would continue its inspection and enforcement activities to check quackery and protect residents from unsafe medical practices.