Tuesday July 15, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
Akwa Ibom State Government has promised to shut down health facilities operating with unqualified personnel, to sanitise the health sector and safeguard public safety.
Health Commissioner Prof. Augustine Umoh spoke at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Uyo.
He said the ministry had begun profiling of private and public health facilities, to weed out substandard operations and rid the system of quackery.
Umoh added: “Any health facility found operating without the requisite qualifications or those who continue to employ unlicensed or fake personnel will be shut.
“We will not allow the lives of our people to be put at risk by those masquerading as health care providers.”
The commissioner said the government was concerned about the growing number of complaints from residents over the poor quality of care in some clinics, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
He said the state’s task force on health facility monitoring had been directed to intensify inspections and report any infraction without delay.
“We have seen cases where people masquerade as nurses or doctors without any formal training or licensing. This is unacceptable, we are moving swiftly to address the situation,” Umoh said.
He noted that some facilities, including maternity homes and drug dispensaries, were found to be operating without proper accreditation or compliance with professional standards.
Such infractions, he warned, would no longer be tolerated.
The commissioner stressed that the clampdown was not targeted at genuine private practitioners who met the minimum standard, but was rather aimed at safeguarding lives and restoring confidence in the health system.
The state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Emem Abraham, described the move as “long overdue,” urging the Ministry of Health to ensure enforcement without political interference.
