Fake healthcare, child trafficking claims: Rivers Government takes decisive action.

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The Rivers State Government has shut down five hospitals and a patent drug store across Port Harcourt and other parts of the state over allegations of child trafficking and operating without proper licences.

Seven suspects, including facility operators, were arrested during the operation.
According to the government, the arrests followed a discreet investigation carried out by the state Anti-Quackery Committee with support from security agencies after receiving reports from members of the public. The Ministry of Health said it would work with the police to ensure the suspects are prosecuted.
The Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee and Permanent Secretary Designate of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed this during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Wachukwu explained that some of the affected facilities were being run by non-medical personnel and unqualified individuals who allegedly carried out surgeries and prescribed drugs to unsuspecting patients.
Accompanied by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Prof. Ureh Oparaodu, and co-chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee, Dr Hope Avundah, he also revealed that some operators were illegally training aspiring nurses despite lacking the qualifications and approvals required to run such programmes.
He further disclosed that one of the recently sealed facilities had been operating under the guise of a hospital while allegedly engaging in child trafficking. According to investigations, the operator reportedly kept dead babies and exchanged them for living infants after falsely informing mothers that their babies had died during delivery.
The facilities sealed include PLARIV Hospital on Kreigeni Road, Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA; Good Shepherd Hospital on Nkaru Street, also in ONELGA; Blessed GoodNews Clinic at 31 Bonny Street, Port Harcourt; ESTATE Clinic in Okahia Estate, off East-West Road, Obio/Akpor LGA; a patent drug shop in Ndele, Emohua LGA; and EL DONA Hospital in Elekahia, Port Harcourt City LGA.
Wachukwu also cited another serious case involving a 20-year-old girl who reportedly died after receiving an injection of an unknown substance from an operator of a patent drug store.
Speaking on EL DONA Hospital, he alleged that the proprietor was operating without registration and was involved in child trafficking.
“All members of staff of the facility were immediately arrested for prosecution. We sealed the facility and will support the police to ensure the proprietor is prosecuted,” he said.
He added that investigations revealed that women delivered babies at the facility and were sometimes allegedly deceived into believing their newborns had died. Dead babies were allegedly used to replace living infants, which were then sold.
“She has been doing this until now, but luck has run out for her. The ministry and Rivers State Government will do everything to ensure she is prosecuted,” Wachukwu stated.
On the patent drug shop in Ndele, Emohua LGA, he said the operator was untrained and allegedly administered injectable medication that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old secondary school graduate who had written JAMB and was awaiting admission.
He said the facility had been sealed and several individuals arrested, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the operator, who was absent during the raid.
Wachukwu also explained that PLARIV Hospital in Omoku was being operated by a non-medical practitioner from Plateau State who allegedly performed surgeries without training or a licence.
According to him, the facility was also running a training programme for auxiliary nurses, with more than 60 trainees found on site despite lacking registration and certification documents.
The hospital was subsequently sealed, and the proprietor arrested for prosecution.
While expressing satisfaction with the progress made in the fight against quack medical practices over the past two years, Wachukwu said the committee would continue its operations.
He commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the media for supporting the committee’s efforts.
Giving an update on the operation, he said six healthcare facilities were sealed and seven people arrested.
“We don’t want to rest on our laurels because as you fight, they fight back. Just like corruption fights back when you fight it. That is what is happening in the health sector. But with your support, I believe we are winning the race,” he said.
Wachukwu also warned that any Non-Governmental Organisation, private hospital, or religious organisation planning to conduct free medical outreaches or health programmes in the state must first obtain approval from the Ministry of Health through the offices of the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Medical Services.
He stressed that the government would not target organisations with genuine intentions but warned that anyone who ignores the directive would face the consequences.
Source: The PUNCH.