The Anambra State government on Friday said it had closed down over 30 illegal health facilities run by quacks to safeguard the health of residents in the state. 

Afam Obidike, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this at the 2024 annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Anambra State chapter and the fifth Festus Nwako memorial lecture. 

Mr Obidike expressed the state government’s concern about quackery, stating that efforts were being made to eradicate it.

He said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo instituted the State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency to fight quackery and eradicate illegal medical services.

“So far, we have closed down over 30 health facilities in the state, and we discovered that the owners and operators of these hospitals are not even medical doctors. 

“These quacks were making so much money because they do not have conscience. They were carrying out surgeries and toying with the health and lives of our people. 

“We are appealing to the NMA to partner with the state government to eliminate quackery in the health sector to save people from untimely death and improve their life expectancy,” he said.

The commissioner said the state government was committed to improving healthcare delivery. 

Mr Obidike said the government had commenced construction, renovation and equipping of public hospitals across the state, as well as massive recruitment of health workers to improve access to health services. 

(NAN)