The Rivers State Ministry of Health says it has sealed six medical facilities managed by non professionals and allegedly used for child trafficking.
Permanent Secretary Vincent Wachukwu told journalists in Port Harcourt that seven people were arrested during investigations, describing the exercise as a continuation of a two year anti quackery drive by the ministry, the Nigerian Medical Association and affiliate bodies.
“As you fight, they fight back. It’s just like corruption. You fight corruption, corruption fights back. That is what is happening in the health sector,” he said, adding that many of the facilities were run by untrained, unaccredited practitioners identified through whistleblowers and neighbors.
The sealed facilities include PLARIV Hospital and Good Shepherd Hospital in Omoku, Blessed Good News Clinic in Port Harcourt, Estate Clinic in Oklahoma Estate, a patent drug shop in Ndele, Emohua, and Eldona Hospital in Elekahia, where the proprietor was earlier arrested for child trafficking and operating without registration.
Wachukwu revealed that a 20 year old secondary school graduate awaiting admission died after being injected at a patent drug store in Ndele, and vowed that the operator, who fled, would be arrested and prosecuted. He stressed that all medical outreaches in the state must obtain ministry approval.
