A team of officials from the state Ministry of Health, led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, sealed off the facility after thorough background investigations uncovered the illegal activities carried out by one of the doctors (name withheld), who is currently on the run.
According to Obidike, a manhunt has been launched by security operatives to apprehend the fleeing doctor.
The Commissioner for Health, who addressed journalists shortly after the sealing off of the facility, on Friday, restated that the state government was committed towards the fight against all forms of quackery in the health sectors.
He pointed out that it will no longer be “business as usual” for unprofessional healthcare operators in the state.
He noted that the ministry, in its discreet investigation, discovered that several patients have lost their lives at the Saint Norbert Hospital due to unprofessional conduct, disclosing further that the hospital is not registered with the state government.
Obidike vowed to ensure that the erring doctor, who is on the run, along with others who are culpable are brought to book after the completion of necessary investigations.
“The state government has declared the said doctor, who is currently on the run ‘wanted’ and the security operatives are currently on his trail.
“The government of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo is currently working towards strengthening the health system of the state as a way of restoring people’s confidence in government-owned hospitals,” the Commissioner for Health stated.
He maintained that, “The state is about to institute Anambra State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, an agency which will be responsible for the monitoring of activities of healthcare personnel, hospitals, and as well get responses, compliants from the public on the quality of health services issues in their localities,” the commissioner added.
A female community member who spoke with journalists on the condition of anonymity, corroborated the allegation of Obidike that patients have repeatedly lost their loved ones through the activities of quacks, who resort to unprofessional practices and a lack of necessary medical equipment.
She called on the state government to investigate the matter critically to provide a permanent solution and ultimately save the people from untimely deaths.
