15 illegal hospitals shut down by Lagos State Govt

The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency has shut down over 15 illegal health facilities in the state.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said investigation and inspection carried out by the agency showed that these health facilities had violated some pro- visions under the States Health Sector Reform Law of 2006.

According to the commissioner, the affected health facilities are -- Kaff-Salam Maternity Home at No. 8, Onabola Street Bariga, Gbayi Clinic and Maternity Home at No. 57, Akinola Street, Bariga, Iya Deborah Maternity Hospital, Eleshin Ikorodu.

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Others are St. Daniel Hospital at No. 17, Igbeyin Adun Street, Makoko and Oluwaseun King Maternity Centre at No 24, Ogo-Oluwa Street, Bariga. Also shut are the Oluwadimimu Maternity Home at No 3, Alhaji Davies Street, Surulere, UDYP Christian Hospital at No 62, Sanya Street, Aguda, Surulere.

The remaining facilities are Mount Zion Maternity Centre at No 3B, James Daniel Street, off Low Cost Housing Estate, Sabo Ikorodu, Above Medical Centre at No 121, Abaranje Road, Ikotun-Alimosho and the Saint Medical Diagnostics Centre at No 235, Idimu-Ikotun Road, Alake Bus Stop, Alimosho, Lagos.

Idris stated that the health facilities were found guilty of offences including use of poor facilities, unqualified personnel and non-registration of facilities with appropriate agencies.

He added that the affected health facilities by their practices were promoting quackery by training auxiliary nurses to undertake duties beyond their competence and operating under unhygienic conditions. Idris said, "Some health care providers train auxiliary assistants in their clinics to do what they are not supposed to do.

They are bastardising the medical profession by recruiting auxiliary nurses and unqualified personnel, bringing the profession into disrepute as well as endangering the lives of innocent people who unknowingly patronise them. "We are determined to put a halt to these ugly trends of having unqualified personnel work in health facilities be it private or public.

We as a government will continue to insist that the environment for the dispensation of medical care should be suitable for the promotion and maintenance of good health and we will ensure that." He, however, urged all health care providers in the state to ensure that their facilities meet accreditation requirements, are duly registered and manned by qualified health care personnel.

Idris stated that henceforth, all health care providers must provide relevant evidence of Continuing Medical Education Programme for all health workers in their facilities in addition to providing monthly hospital data to the ministry of health.

 He added that affected health facilities would remain closed until they meet the mandatory requirements for the registration of health facilities in the state.