Rivers shuts 21 health facilities, arrests three over quackery

The Rivers State Government has recently shut down 21 health facilities and arrested three individuals for allegedly operating without proper registration or meeting minimum health standards. Permanent Secretary Dr Vincent Wachukwu made the announcement during a press briefing on the ministry's third-quarter anti-quackery committee.

The enforcement operation targeted health facilities in five local government areas, including Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni. Only about 20 percent of registered health facilities reportedly comply with mandatory annual inspections and certificate renewals. The arrested individuals include three persons linked to the operation of some illegal facilities, who will face prosecution.

Among the sealed facilities were Manda Hospital, Vasty Clinic, Danny Clinic, Havilla Hospital, Kambel Hospital, Golden Era Hospital, and Ola Oluwa Hospital. One of the facilities, Manda Hospital, was allegedly involved in child trafficking, with a Liberian national revealing the procurement of three children within a month. The other facilities were found to be unregistered and lacking licensed medical practitioners. The government aims to eradicate quackery and enforce health regulations in the state.