Anyone discovered running or working in an unlicensed health facility shall be arrested and prosecuted
Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered a crackdown on quack medical practitioners and unlicensed hospitals in the FCT.
This order came from the FCT in response to the death of a pregnant woman who had just undergone a cesarean section at the private Afolmi Hospital in Durumi, Abuja.
The 35-year-old lady named Chekwube Chinagorom was pronounced dead at the Asokoro District Hospital on Friday, April 25.
According to reports, she passed away after a Caesarean section at Afolmi Hospital in Durumi, Abuja, a private institution that is not recognized and is known for its hazardous and subpar medical conditions.
After giving birth to a healthy baby, she was referred to the Asokoro District Hospital for treatment.
The results of the investigation by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) showed that Afolmi Hospital had not been properly registered.
During the inspection, the only person on staff, Mr. Simon Elisha Godiya, who claimed to be a Junior Community Health Extension Worker (JCHEW), was present. Godiya said that one Murtala Jumma and another unnamed person had performed the surgery.
Wike stated that anyone discovered running or working in an unlicensed health facility shall be arrested and prosecuted.
According to a statement made by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, it is regrettable that the majority of pregnant women are not enrolling in the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) despite the fact that it is free to register.
The statement reads, “In the FCT, vulnerable persons, including pregnant women enjoy free enrollment into the FHIS, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS).
“Also, in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and demonstration the Wike-led FCTA zero tolerance for maternalmortality, several hospitals in the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEONC) centers. These facilities also offer cesarean sections free of charge.
“Our pregnant women are once again urged to take advantage of this free health insurance scheme and stop visiting quack medical personnel and unregistered health facilities.”
