Anambra State Government has sealed off Saint Norbert Hospital, Amansea, in Awka North Local Government Area of the state due to illegal and unprofessional medical practices and conduct. The facility was sealed off by a team of officials from the state Ministry of Health, led by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike. The Commissioner for Health, who addressed journalists shortly after the sealing off of the facility, on Friday, reiterated the commitment of the state government to fight against all forms of quackery in the health sectors.
According to Obidike, the hospital is not registered with the state government and one of the doctors, whose name has been withheld, is currently on the run. The commissioner stated that a manhunt has been launched by security operatives to apprehend the fleeing doctor. The ministry, in its discreet investigation, discovered that several patients have lost their lives at the Saint Norbert Hospital due to unprofessional conduct.
“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.
The commissioner also noted 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, complaints from the public on the quality of health services issues in their localities.
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.
The sealing off of the hospital has been welcomed by concerned citizens who are eager to see a reduction in the number of avoidable deaths in the state. A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, expressed delight over the development, describing it as a step in the right direction.
“I am very happy with the government’s decision to seal off the hospital. It is unfortunate that people have lost their lives due to unprofessional practices by the doctors. We are hopeful that the government will take the necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the state,” the resident said.
Another resident, who identified himself simply as Emmanuel, called on the government to ensure that the erring doctors are brought to book after the completion of necessary investigations. He expressed hope that the state government would intensify efforts to upgrade and equip government-owned hospitals in the state, as this will help to restore the confidence of the public in the healthcare system.
The sealing off of Saint Norbert Hospital, Amansea, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State is a clear indication of the state government’s determination to stamp out quackery and unprofessional medical practices in the state. The government’s efforts to strengthen the healthcare system of the state are highly commendable, and we hope that this will translate into better healthcare services for the people of Anambra State.
