Health
Lagos targets unlicensed hospitals in renewed crackdown
Ayoola Babalola
The Lagos State Government has intensified its crackdown on medical quackery, urging residents to support efforts to identify and report unlicensed healthcare facilities operating across the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, Victoria Egunjobi, made the appeal during a one-day awareness and sensitisation campaign held in Badagry to educate residents on the dangers of patronising unqualified healthcare providers.
Represented by the agency’s Director of Monitoring and Inspection, Olayinka Daniel, Egunjobi said protecting public health requires collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and residents.
She urged Lagosians to seek treatment only from healthcare facilities displaying the official HEFAMAA accreditation logo, noting that the emblem confirms that a facility has met regulatory standards and has been duly licensed by the state government.
According to her, the sensitisation campaign was organised to deepen public understanding of the agency’s statutory responsibilities, including the monitoring, inspection, accreditation and licensing of healthcare facilities across Lagos State.
“The essence of this programme is to enlighten residents of Badagry on the responsibilities of HEFAMAA, which include monitoring, inspection, accreditation and licensing of health facilities.
This is aimed at ensuring that only qualified healthcare providers, in line with the provisions of Section 63 of the Lagos State Health Sector Reform Law, are allowed to operate in the state,” she said.
Egunjobi described medical quackery as a major threat to public health and safety, warning that preventable deaths caused by unqualified medical practitioners must not be allowed to continue.
“One life lost due to quackery is one too many,” she said.
She called on traditional rulers, market leaders, artisans, religious organisations, youth groups, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to join the agency’s efforts to eliminate illegal medical practice in the state.
According to her, the campaign against quackery cannot be won by the government alone and requires active public participation.
“Ensure that you patronise only health facilities displaying the HEFAMAA logo.
“If you notice any facility operating without the logo, do not hesitate to report it. See something, say something, so that together we can win the battle against quackery,” she added.
As part of the campaign, HEFAMAA officials visited several locations in Badagry, including the Primary Health Centre, Ijanikin; Lagos Health District V Office; Badagry Local Government Secretariat, the palace of the traditional ruler of Badagry, Badagry General Hospital; Badagry Market, Badagry Roundabout Motor Park and the Lagos State University campus in Ojo.
At various locations, residents were educated on how to identify accredited healthcare facilities, and informational materials detailing HEFAMAA’s responsibilities and the risks associated with unlicensed providers were distributed.
The campaign forms part of the Lagos State Government’s broader efforts to strengthen healthcare regulation, protect residents from unsafe medical practices and improve access to quality healthcare services across the state.
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