By Edebor Esther Ihunanyachi
As part of the ongoing reforms in the Edo State health sector, new standards and regulations have been set to ensure quality healthcare delivery and services to all Edo residents.
In accordance with the new reforms, the Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has continued with the comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of medical centres across the State to ensure that the required standards are strictly adhered to.
Accordingly, officials of the Edo State Ministry of Health have sealed up the Calvary Cross Medical Centre at Isihor in Benin City, over the facility’s failure to comply with standard regulations guiding medical practice in the State.
Speaking after the closure of the facility, the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Edward Aisowerien, stated that “in the course of our routine monitoring, we discovered that the facility is not registered with the Ministry of Health, that there is no evidence of any trained medical professional working in the facility, and only four auxiliary nurses were on the ground to attend to patients.” It was also observed that the facility was training auxiliary nurses without approval from regulatory authorities.
Dr Edward further stated that the facility had contravened several regulations of healthcare practice in the State, revealing that the facility is situated in a residential area, with no proper waste disposal system, and no evidence of adherence to set standards of practice in the State.
He added that “the campaign against quack medical practices is on in Edo State,” and he further called on those practising outside medical standards and those who hire non-medical professionals to run their medical centres to desist from the act, and standardise the practice, or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
At the time of the facility’s closure, the proprietor was not available, even after emergency calls were placed to him by his staff. The monitoring team had earlier closed down some facilities at Uromi in Esan North East for failing to adhere to the healthcare standards in Edo State.
