Anambra State govt cracks down on fake doctors, seals illegal health facilities
The Anambra State Government has apprehended two individuals impersonating medical doctors and sealed their health facilities in Alor, located in the Idemili South Local Government Area, and Adazi-Enu, in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
Dr. Afam Obidike, the State’s Commissioner for Health, accompanied by security operatives and members of the Anambra Joint Enforcement Team (ANJET), conducted a raid on Friday night, resulting in the arrest of the suspects.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Commissioner identified the suspects as Anayo Okwara, owner of Bright Land Hospital and Maternity Ltd in Alor, and Igwe Ogbonna, owner of Favour of God Hospital and Maternity in Adazi-Enu.
He stated that the suspects were operating the hospitals illegally within the state.
“After conducting an investigation, it was discovered that Ogbonna is not a medical doctor and possesses no medical knowledge whatsoever. Additionally, he used his hospital as a nursing school, where aspiring students paid substantial amounts ranging from N70,000 to N100,000 to study nursing. Some of the student nurses we encountered at the facility confirmed this,” said the Commissioner.
“Regarding Okwara, the second suspect, Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu, the President-General of the Alor community, wrote a complaint to the ministry regarding the high number of deaths recorded at Bright Land Hospital.”
“Initially, Okwara claimed to be a homeopathic doctor, but he later confessed that his medical certificates and license were forged during the course of the interrogation,” he added.
The Commissioner further mentioned that five illegal health facilities had been shut down so far, emphasizing that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration would not relent in its efforts to eradicate fake doctors operating across the state.
He clarified that the objective of the operation was not to witch hunt anyone, but rather to ensure standards in both government and private hospitals within the state.
“It is disheartening that death is an irreversible outcome, and I fail to comprehend why individuals who lack medical expertise would continue to endanger lives due to greed and their desire to make money through illegal means,” he stated.
“We issue a stern warning to those who are operating illegally and falsely presenting themselves as medical doctors to close down their hospitals or face legal consequences. Anambra is not a place for quacks to practice,” he warned.
The Commissioner expressed his gratitude to community leaders and vigilante groups for providing the tip-off, urging residents to remain vigilant and report such illegal activities in their respective areas.
He commended Governor Soludo for providing the necessary support to carry out the raid and confirmed that the suspects would be prosecuted in court.