In a joint operations on Sunday, the Udenu Local Government Council, in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry of Health has sealed a healthcare facility, St Joseph’s Memorial Hospital, Ada-ulo, Obollo Etiti in Udenu local government area.
The self acclaimed medical doctor and owner of the hospital, Kenneth Mammah, was also arrested during the operations.
This was disclosed by Mr Jude Eze, the Media Officer to the Udenu LGA, Chairman Hon. Aka Eze-Aka on Sunday.
He said that last month (October), some residents of Onumkpu Ogerenyi village in Ada-ulo, Obollo Etiti community in Udenu LGA, came to the council with a disturbing allegation.
According to him, the villagers alleged that a man suspected to be operating an unlicensed clinic had carried out a medical procedure on one of the elders of the village, who tragically lost his life in the process.
Eze said that in a decisive action the Council Chairman, Hon. Aka pledged to swiftly address the concern of the agreed villagers.
“If you keep trust in the system and stay calm, we will employ all legitimate means to ensure this menace is removed from our midst, ” he told the villagers.
Eze said that, true to his word, the chairman directed the Supervisor for Health, Hon. Chijioke Laz, to undertake a covert assessment of the facility in question.
“After the assessment, it was confirmed that there was indeed a clinic operating under the guise of legitimate health service, but run by a person without credentials and outside regulatory oversight.
“The report prompted the immediate interventions of the local government health authority in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health’s anti-quack enforcement team.
“The joint operations successfully resulted in the arrest of the suspect, while the facility was sealed, ” he said.
Speaking on the operation, Hon. Aka described the success of the exercise as a breakthrough and a warning to others.
“This should serve as a firm warning that anyone who dares operate unlicensed medical services, or parades fake credentials in Udenu LGA, will face the full wrath of the law.
“Our people will not be pawns of greedy death Marchants masquerading as healthcare professionals, ” he said.
The chairman vowed that such exercise would continue across the communities in the LGA until quacks are completely eradicated.
