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From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
As part of efforts to fight against quackery and substandard medical practice in the state, Benue State Government have sealed two hospitals in the State.
They include St. John’s hospital in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) and St. Peter and Paul Community Health Centre and Maternity in Lessel, Ushongo Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, who disclosed this to newsmen said on Friday, he had dispatched the Ministry’s enforcement team led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Joshua Agbadu, with support from the Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Alex Tyover Iorbo, and Desk Officers for Otukpo and Gboko LGAs on routine field monitoring across Otukpo and its environs.
During the inspection of St. John’s Hospital Otukpo, the team found the facility operating in a substandard and unsafe environment and also failing to follow approved treatment protocols.
The commissioner said “This includes a reported case of removal of both breasts of a patient allegedly carried out on the 25th of November without adherence to established clinical guidelines.
“The hospital was immediately sealed, and the Medical Superintendent was issued a formal query and directed to report to the Ministry for further investigation.”
Ogwuche reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia to ensuring safe, ethical, and high-quality healthcare services for all residents of Benue State.
He warned that the government will not hesitate to take firm action against any facility found endangering patient lives.
The Ministry had earlier shut down St. Peter and Paul Community Health Centre and Maternity in Lessel, Ushongo Local Government, over gross professional misconduct, underscoring the government’s sustained effort to sanitize the health sector.
The Commissioner urged all healthcare workers to maintain strict professional standards or face regulatory consequences.
