The Lagos State Government has shut down no fewer than thirty quack health facilities this year, as part of its ongoing clampdown on unlicensed medical facilities operating without qualified personnel or proper accreditation.
Speaking during a Sensitisation Campaign and Town hall Meeting on the Roles and Responsibilities of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, at the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area secretariat, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, represented by the agency’s Director of Monitoring and Inspection, Dr. Daniel Olayinka, said the exercise was aimed at safeguarding residents from unsafe healthcare practices.
According to her, the agency has stepped up its monitoring of both public and private health facilities across Lagos, shutting down those found to be in violation of standards.
Dr Idowu urged residents to be vigilant when choosing healthcare centres, emphasising that every accredited facility displays HEFAMAA’s signage and certificate of registration at its reception.
Contributing, Chief Nutrition Officer of HEFAMAA, Mr Richard Olusanya, explained that the agency was created in 2006 to guarantee patient safety by regulating standards in both public and private facilities.
He stressed that cleanliness and specialisation are key to safe medical practice.
Writing by Ngozi Okpala