Rivers anti-quackery committee shuts six illegal health facilities

The Rivers State Interprofessional Anti-Quackery Committee has sealed six unauthorized health facilities across the state as part of its crackdown on unqualified medical practice.

In a statement released in Port Harcourt, the committee’s secretary, Dr. Hope Ovundah, said the operation was led by Dr. Vincent Wachukwu and Dr. Diamond Tamunokuro and resulted in the arrest of two individuals.

One of the facilities, Bristol Clinic and Maternity at Rumuodomaya in Port Harcourt, was discovered to be a three-bedroom apartment converted into a six-bed hospital.

Investigators found it was being run by Mr. Kingsley Ugwu, who allegedly posed as a doctor and conducted maternity and surgical procedures without qualifications.

Ugwu was arrested for quackery and impersonation.

Another facility, Adoration Hospital and Maternity in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, was also shut down.

The clinic, which operated from a three-room shop, was reportedly managed by a one-month post-internship doctor alongside ten auxiliary trainees.

Both the young doctor and the facility’s proprietor have been summoned before the Rivers State Ministry of Health and the disciplinary panel of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

The latest action comes barely three months after the state Ministry of Health sealed a similar illegal facility in the Borokiri area of Port Harcourt.