As part of measures to ensure residents access improved, quality healthcare services, the Anambra State Government,Southeast Nigeria, has partnered with the World Health Organization to monitor and eliminate quack health facilities.
This was made known by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, at the official launch of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Unit and its e-platform, on Tuesday in Awka. He said the unit had set required minimum standards for operations of health facilities, both in the public and private healthcare sectors, stressing that the government would not tolerate illegal health practices.
Obidike added, “When we resumed office, 80 per cent of healthcare services were being driven by the private sector without regulations. This is why many quack doctors are operating healthcare facilities in the state. “This was why Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration in partnership with WHO decided to establish ASHAFAMU to ensure quality healthcare delivery for all residents of the state. “With this unit, Anambra’s ASHAFAMU will become the second government-owned accreditation body in Nigeria, after Lagos state, to guarantee patients’ safety. “The state government will no longer tolerate unprofessional practices, quackery, lack of qualified medical personnel, non-registration of facilities and lack of basic equipment, which can compromise the health and the well-being of patients,” he said.
The commissioner lauded WHO and the state’s ICT agency for designing the ASHAFAMU e-platform.
The Chairman, House Committee on Health at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Tony Mobuike, urged health providers in Anambra to embrace the provisions of the accreditation policy. He revealed that there is now a legal framework to close down health facilities for non-compliance, arrest and prosecute quack healthcare providers.
Speaking also, the state Coordinator, WHO, Dr Bonos Mohammed, said the establishment of the unit would protect and safeguard the health of citizens. He noted that WHO would continue to support the state to ensure ASHAFAMU achieve its mandate and sanitize the health sector.
The Managing Director, Anambra ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Agbata, said accredited health facilities would be uploaded for easy tracking, location and to verify accreditation status. He advised, “Residents should visit this e-platform as it will serve as a hospital directory and for feedback purposes.”
