The Rivers State Anti-Quackery Committee says it has sealed over 72 facilities and arrested 12 persons since it started operation in the state.

Chairman of the committee and Director, Medical Services, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu gave the statistics while briefing journalists on the activities of the committee in Port Harcourt.

Recall that the committee was inaugurated last year by the former Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Adaeze Oreh to check activities of quacks and illegal healthcare facilities in the state.

Wachukwu said so many of the arrested persons are undergoing investigation for possible prosecution while a few others have been prosecuted.

He noted that despite the so much effort being put in by the committee and the Rivers State Government to rid the state of quacks, they still operate in several parts of the state including Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and it's environs.

The committee chairman assured that the committee and the government are committed in protecting the lives of Rivers people and ensuring that they get proper care from qualified health personnel.

"We have really worked so hard since the inception of this Anti-Quackery Committee. We have sealed about 72 hospitals, we have arrested 12 persons in connection with quackery. If you also recall there was a hospital that was sealed sometime ago in Oyigbo that was being manned by a Korean. He was arrested and detained by the Department of State Security and probably for diplomatic reasons he was deported and so his own activity in Nigeria has ended. Some people have also been imprisoned because of their activities," he said.

He lamented further that; "despite the efforts of this committee and the government to rid Rivers State off this quacks, it would surprise you to note that these practices are still going on in so many areas and local governments unabated including Port Harcourt, Obio/ Akpor and it's environs. Now based on these, the committee had continued in it's activity of visiting these facilities to look into what they are doing and to take necessary actions".

Giving a breakdown of it recent successes, Wachukwu said last Friday, some facilities and individuals operating illegally within Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas of the state were sealed for various offences including operating without licences, unhealthy environments, operating from residential apartments amongst others.

He listed the sealed facilities and individuals to include Sosan Medical Center and Laboratory/ Nursing School located off Okporo Road, Bristol Clinic and Maternity Rumuodumaya, operated by one Mr Kingsley Ugwu, a suspected fake doctor, Adoration Hospital and Maternity Limited Omagwa, Lucky Pharmacy Omagwa and Miss Rejoice Ogbia a patent medicine dealer in Aluu who was reported to be carrying out unauthorized practices beyond her scope of training.

He also warned medical practitioners against colluding with quacks to sabotage the healthcare sector in the state.

"We also want to use this opportunity to warn some of our health workers to desist from some of their activities because some of them are aiding and abating some of these things that are happening.

"You can't imagine a doctor going to a maternity to do surgery when primary healthcare center that is built and being runed by government is not authorized to do surgery," he stated.

Wachukwu equally urged the media to be wary of the kind of advertorials they publish so as not to deceive the public into patronizing quacks.

He used the opportunity to reiterate the ban on all unauthorized medical outreaches by NGOs, individuals, churches and individuals.

"We also want to use this medium to warn once more that no religious organization, no private hospital, no NGO, no civil society organization, no individual, not even a company is authorized to carryout any form of free medical care without an approval from the Ministry of Health through the office of the Director Medical Services," he added.

Wachukwu while urging the people to desist from patronizing quacks, said they should take advantage of the Rivers State Contributory Health Insurance Programme (RIVCHIP) to access near-free healthcare services.

He also commended the efforts of various health organizations, security agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, religious groups and individuals for their support.

On his part, Dr Diamond Tamunokuro, Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, Rivers State, said the association would not defend any doctor found indulging in illegal practice.

He urged all facilities to get the requisite approvals from the Ministry of Health.

"What Rivers people and the Rivers State Government are saying is that quacks are no longer allowed in the health sector in Rivers State. If you are not registered with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, you're not qualified to do what you are doing . If you are practicing in a place that's not supposed to be use for a hospital, then you should desist from it from now because the Anti-Quackery Committee will get you.

"We are going beyond just Obio/ Akpor and Port Harcourt. We are going to places far away from the main cities. The moment the committee gets you, you'll be arrested and prosecuted. The NMA is not going to defend you because you're a doctor, the NMA will do the right thing to ensure that you serve the punishment you are supposed to serve. Lives of Rivers people matter and it's our collective duty to protect those lives," he added.