* Vows to clamp down on more
The Delta State government has sealed 18 facilities for falling short of the law pertaining registration and operations of private health facilities in the State.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this in Warri during the monitoring and inspection visit of the officials of the ministry.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training, Dr. Mathew Anibor, said that no person or company sthe right to operate a private healthcare facility unless such a facility has been duly registered by the ministry as provided by the Private Healthcare Facilities law of May, 2019.
He said: “This exercise is on-going, as more unscheduled visits will be made to other registered facilities to ascertain their status with respect to the annual renewal fees.
”Yesterday we were in Ughelli and today we are working in Warri and its environs and intend to move to Sapele, Oghara, Agbor, Asaba among other major towns in the State, not excluding the rural areas,” he said.
The premises were sealed as a result of the facilities not being registered to operate as private healthcare facility by the ministry, default in payment of annual renewal fees, as well as those facilities employing and training auxiliary nurses among other offences.
The commissioner, however, advised private healthcare facilities operating in the State to do the needful by registering their facilities with the Ministry of Health.
He also urged residents to report any facilities, which they suspect are involved in unwholesome practices.
Facilities monitored included hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, laboratories, eye clinics, and traditional birth attendant homes.
Penalties for various offences include terms of imprisonment for a period of not less than six months, but not exceeding one year or a payment of fine up to N5 million.