Rivers Government Shuts Five Hospitals, Drug Store Over Alleged Child Trafficking, Quackery; Seven Arrested
The Rivers State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal health facilities, shutting down five hospitals and a patent drug store over alleged involvement in child trafficking, quack medical practices, and operating without the required licenses.
The operation, which led to the arrest of seven suspects, was carried out by the State Anti-Quackery Committee with support from security agencies following investigations into the activities of the affected facilities.
The hospitals sealed by the government include PLARIV Hospital on Kreigeni Road, Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA); Good Shepherd Hospital on Nkaru Street, also in ONELGA; Blessed GoodNews Clinic at 31 Bonny Street, Port Harcourt; ESTATE Clinic in Okahia Estate, off the East-West Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; and EL DONA Hospital in Elekahia, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area. A patent drug store located in Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area, was also shut down.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the Chairman of the State Anti-Quackery Committee and Permanent Secretary Designate in the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed that investigations revealed that some of the facilities were being operated by individuals without medical qualifications.
According to him, some of the suspects were carrying out surgeries, prescribing medications, and administering drugs to patients despite lacking the professional competence and legal authorization to do so.
Wachukwu further alleged that some of the operators were illegally training aspiring nurses even though they lacked accreditation and the necessary qualifications to run healthcare institutions.
He described one of the cases uncovered by the committee as particularly disturbing, alleging that the operator of one of the hospitals was involved in child trafficking.
He claimed that the facility allegedly deceived mothers into believing their babies had died during childbirth, while the infants were allegedly exchanged for other purposes.
The committee chairman also revealed that another case under investigation involved the death of a 20-year-old woman after she was allegedly injected with an unidentified substance by the operator of a patent drug store.
Providing details on EL DONA Hospital in Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Wachukwu said the proprietor was operating without proper registration and was allegedly linked to child trafficking activities.
The Rivers State Government reiterated its commitment to sanitizing the health sector and protecting residents from unqualified practitioners whose activities endanger lives. Authorities said investigations are ongoing and assured that those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The government also urged members of the public to seek medical treatment only from licensed and accredited healthcare facilities and to report suspected illegal medical operations to the appropriate authorities.
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