The Rivers State Ministry of Health have closed down two medical facilities in Akiama and Macaulay Communities in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A statement by the Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State, Hope Avundaa, disclosed that the Director of Medical Services in the State Ministry of Health, Vincent Wachukwu, accompanied by the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State, Ebbi Robinson sealed up the two medical facilities.

Avundaa told Kristina Reports over the telephone that St. Charles Surgery in Akiama Community and Ndukwe Clinic in Macaulay Street were sealed up for issues relating to unprofessional services on the orders of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

According to Avundaa, a viral video showing a woman complaining of how her husband died at St. Charles Surgery after being brought in as an emergency case and was not attended to, led to the Governor’s decision to shut down the facility.

The lady narrated in the said video that the staff at the Clinic insisted that they make a deposit of N40,000 for treatment and N2,000 for registration before he would be attended to.

She further narrated that even after the payment was made he was still not attended to as the nurses insisted on seeing the receipt of the payment and by the time the transfer receipt was obtained from the Point of Sale (POS) merchant, her husband has given up the ghost.

Checks by Kristina Reports reveal that the Hippocratic Oath offered to medical doctors upon completion of their training requires that they prioritize saving lives, as evidenced in this extract from the oath: “Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks”.

So far, the management of St. Charles Surgery has yet to make a statement on the incident. Efforts by Kristina Reports to reach the medical facility for comments has so far proved abortive.

On the other hand, the statement by the NMA said the State Ministry of Health sealed up Ndukwe Clinic located at Store 2, Macaulay Plaza on the premise that it is “an unregistered health facility operating illegally, in Bonny Island, Bonny LGA”.

According to the statement, “the hospital is reportedly run by Dr. Onum Ndukwe and some auxiliary nurses, who carry out substandard medical activities, in a 2-room shoplet in a shopping plaza”.

“Our investigation also revealed a poor sanitary environment, poor waste disposal methods and no IPC standards”.

“The facility was operating without registration and approval from the Rivers State Ministry of Health. Investigation is currently on to verify the professional status and qualification of the culprit.”

Dr Avundaa told Kristina Reports that the current drive by the State Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Nigerian Medical Association, Rivers State will continue until the State is rid of the menace of medical quackery.