As part of measures to sanitize the activities of private health care facilities in the state, the Delta State government on Wednesday sealed 18 facilities in the state.
Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, made the disclosure during the monitoring and inspection visit of officials of the health ministry to the various private health care facilities in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training, Dr. Mathew Anibor, said that no person or company had the right to operate a private healthcare facility unless such a facility had been duly registered by the ministry as provided for in the Private Healthcare Facilities Law of May, 2019.
Dr. Onojaeme said the sealed facilities fell short of the law, as it concerns registration and operations of private healthcare facilities in the state.
He said, “This exercise is on-going, as more unscheduled visits would be made to other registered facilities to ascertain their status with respect to annual renewal fees. Yesterday, we were in Ughelli and today we are working in Warri and its environs and intend to move to Sapele, Oghara, Agbor, Asaba among other major towns in the state, not excluding the rural areas.
“The premises were sealed as a result of the facilities not being registered to operate as private healthcare facility by the ministry, default in payment of annual renewal fees, as well as those facilities employing and training auxiliary nurses, among other offences.
“We want to use this medium to advise private healthcare facilities operating in the state to do the needful by registering their facilities with the Ministry of Health and also urged residents to report any facilities which they suspect are involved in unwholesome practices.”
South-South PUNCH learnt that the facilities monitored included hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, laboratories, eye clinics, and traditional birth attendant homes.
The commissioner said penalties for these offences include terms of imprisonment for a period of not less than six months, but not exceeding one year, or a payment of fine up to N5 million.
