Anambra arrests a woman accused of performing illegal surgeries at an unlicensed birth centre as the state intensifies its crackdown on medical quackery.
The Anambra State Government has intensified its campaign against illegal medical practice with the arrest of a 47-year-old woman accused of carrying out surgical procedures without the necessary medical qualifications or legal approval.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Onyinyechi Esther Charles, was apprehended following an investigation into the activities of a traditional birth attendant (TBA) facility she allegedly operated in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area.
Authorities believe the centre had been functioning outside the established healthcare regulatory framework while offering services that should only be handled by trained and licensed medical professionals.
According to information released by the Anambra State Ministry of Health, the operation that led to the arrest formed part of the government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate medical quackery, strengthen public confidence in healthcare services and prevent avoidable deaths resulting from unqualified medical practice.
Health officials alleged that Mrs. Charles carried out caesarean sections, assisted normal vaginal deliveries and performed other surgical procedures despite not possessing the qualifications, professional certification or legal authorisation required for such medical interventions.
The ministry stated that preliminary investigations linked the facility to several cases of medical complications, with reports also suggesting that some patients lost their lives after receiving treatment at the centre.
Although authorities did not disclose the exact number of affected patients, they described the allegations as serious enough to warrant immediate government intervention.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, reportedly directed the investigation after concerns were raised about the activities of the facility.
The probe was carried out as part of the state’s broader strategy to identify and shut down illegal healthcare centres operating across Anambra.
Officials said the suspect allegedly admitted during interrogation that she had been performing caesarean operations, conducting childbirth procedures and carrying out other forms of surgery without the required professional qualifications.
Investigators are expected to verify the full extent of the allegations as the legal process continues.
Authorities further disclosed that Mrs. Charles is an indigene of Abia State who is married to a native of Nteje in Anambra State.
They also claimed that before assuming her current identity, she was popularly known as “Eze Nwanyi.”
Investigators further alleged that she later became a church minister and subsequently presented herself to members of the public as a surgeon, a development officials believe may have helped build public confidence in her services.
As part of the investigation, the Commissioner for Health visited the facility on Sunday, July 12, accompanied by the Mayor of Anambra East Local Government Area, Hon. Ifeanyi Chinweze, alongside security personnel and other government officials.
During the inspection, authorities reportedly recovered several surgical instruments and medical equipment believed to have been used for the alleged unauthorised procedures.
Hospital beds and other treatment facilities were also found within the premises, suggesting that patients had been receiving medical care at the location.
Officials said the inspection also uncovered what appeared to be a shrine and an altar inside the building.
While the government did not provide further details about the significance of the items, their discovery formed part of the official findings documented during the operation.
Following the raid, the Anambra State Government announced that the facility had been sealed and confiscated pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
Authorities maintained that the premises would remain under government control while investigations continue and evidence is processed.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction where the allegations against her will be determined in accordance with the law.
Government officials stressed that the arrest should serve as a warning to individuals engaging in illegal medical practice, noting that anyone found endangering the lives of residents through unlicensed healthcare activities would face prosecution.
The latest operation reflects the Anambra State Government’s renewed determination to sanitise the health sector by identifying illegal clinics, unregistered maternity homes and other facilities operating without regulatory approval.
Health authorities have repeatedly advised residents to seek treatment only from licensed hospitals and qualified healthcare professionals, especially for surgical procedures and childbirth.
Medical experts have consistently warned that surgeries performed by unqualified individuals expose patients to life-threatening complications, including severe infections, excessive bleeding, permanent disability and even death.
They have also urged members of the public to verify the credentials of healthcare providers before undergoing treatment.
As investigations continue, the Ministry of Health has assured residents that it will sustain its crackdown on quackery to improve healthcare standards across the state and ensure that those responsible for violating medical regulations are brought before the law.
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