Activist Raise Alarm Over Recruitment, Licensing Of Quacks In Delta Private Hospitals

By Omonigho Odens

A child rights activist, Comrade Aghogho Ighorhiohwunu, has raised alarm over the recruitment and licensing of quacks to replace professionals by medical practitioners who operate private hospitals.

Ighorhiowhunilu said these quacks deal with the health of children in the state.

Ighorhiowhunu raised the alarm in a statement signed and made available to Oasis Magazine (OM).

Ighorhiowhunu said the quacks who parade themselves as auxiliary nurses with fake licenses, are trained by ramshackle hospitals below the professional standard and managed by unscrupulous medical practitioners in the state.

He added that they take delivery of pregnant women, dealing with unborn children, performing major surgeries on children and pregnant women as well as offer consultancy services as pediatricians or gynecologists.

He said: “Most private hospitals in the state lack the required professional staff but now engage in recruiting school dropouts as professional nurses and doctors in dealing with the health of children in the state.

“These quacks brag and even parade themselves with glamorous uniforms and certificates from these ramshackle hospitals with the name of a medical practitioner as their trainer.

“These quacks are responsible for all acts of child abortion, disappearance of babies from the hospital, increase in maternal mortality rate, drug trafficking, increase in HIV infection and increased psychological disorder amongst children.

“Most patent medicine shops in the state managed by these quacks are displaying certificates issued by these private hospital owners and unscrupulous medical practitioners.”

Ighorhiowhunu called on the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA and the Delta State Commissioner of Health to immediately nip this ugly situation in the bud.

He said, failure to, “We will not hesitate to file criminal complaints against any private hospital owner or legal practitioner caught in this heinous act.

“Section 5(2) of the  Delta State Child Right Law states “every person , institution, service, organization and anybody responsible for the care and protection of children shall conform with the standards established by the appropriate authorities, particularly in the areas of safety , health, welfare ,number and suitability of their staff and competent supervision.”