NMA, NANNM and other Medical Unions Supports Sanitization of health sector; as state Government issues two weeks ultimatum to quacks in Cross River State

 

The Cross River State Chapters of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria ( AMLSN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and other allied Medical Association on Friday during the formal unveiling of the Cross River State Public and Private Health Facilities Inspection Taskforce at the General Hospital Calabar lend their support to the Cross River State Government who issued two weeks ultimatum to owners of unregistered health facilities including laboratories, owners of criminal illegal practices such as dealers of products that makes claims to curing of multiple diseases whether supplements or the so called "Cleanser"  to be weary of their operational status as their operations will come under professional supervision and strict scrutiny by the government special taskforce set up.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu on behalf of the State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade who gave two weeks grace to quackery and unregistered health facilities to review their operational status or end their operations across the State.

The Honorable Commissioner revealed that the Governor wants the best care for the inhabitants and Visitors in Cross River State. According to her the Governor beliefs that a responsible healthcare industry is necessary to support the current industrialization drive by Government and help attain Universal health coverage as every household deserve quality and affordable healthcare.

She noted that so many professionals are operating unregistered facilities like hospitals, pharmacies, drug chemist, maternity homes, mortuaries, laboratories and physiotherapy homes with questionable status with no evidence of business practice permit and professional registration licenses.

Edu call on all the media houses both print and electronic to join the drive by developing protocols for the vetting of individuals and their claims to avoid usage of the media channels to peddle their falsehood and quackery activities.

The State Chapter Chairman of NMA, Dr Innocent Abang disclosed that issues of quackery has been a major concern for NMA as a lot of fake and unapproved medical outreaches are carried out across the state especially in the rural areas leading to many deaths and morbidity. He called on the State house of Assembly to have a legislation against quackery and fake medical outreaches across our communities. 

He went further to charged the Inspection Taskforce to live up to expectation by ensuring adequate search is carried out to clamp down on this said facilities, their quackery activities and every other things hindering healthcare delivery in Cross River State.

Earlier Speaking, the one time Commissioner for Health Cross River State, Dr Joseph Ana said when it comes to healthcare matters in the country Cross River use to take the lead until, some persons let things go down in the health sector. He said this  unveiling of the special taskforce inspection team by the State Government is a right move in a right direction & time considering the urgency to Strengthen clinical governance in the State. He applauded the Commissioner for health noting the transformation she has brought so far into the health Sector.

Lending his voice, the State Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress and  Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria Comrade Ben Ukpebi disclosed that for over four weeks he has been going round to sensitize his colleagues to be wary of fake medical outreaches and dissociate from partaking in it. He said it's a welcome development to move against quackery in Cross River State while calling for Anti- quackery bill to be develop and forwarded to the State House of Assembly.

On his part the Coordinator of the Special Inspection Taskforce, Dr David Edem Ushie assured the health stakeholders that the enlarged team will carry out their assignment judiciously and in fairness to all. The team vowed to  support the state to end quackery and sharp practices in the health sector. According to him in two weeks time health Facilities who fail to review their operational status will seize to operate in the State. 

Dr Ushie stated that road side one drug  cures all sellers will henceforth not be tolerated in Cross River State this is not witch hunt but service to our people .