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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
As part of its campaign against quackery and substandard medical practices, the Benue State Government has sealed St John’s Hospital in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, on Friday dispatched the Ministry’s enforcement team led by the Director of Medical Services, Dr Joshua Agbadu, with support from the Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Alex Tyover Iorbo, as well as Desk Officers for Otukpo and Gboko LGAs, for routine field monitoring across Otukpo and its environs.
During the inspection of St John’s Hospital Otukpo, the team found the facility operating in a substandard and unsafe environment and failing to comply with approved treatment protocols.
The commissioner stated, “This includes a reported case of removal of both breasts of a patient allegedly carried out on the 25th of November without adherence to established clinical guidelines.
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“The hospital was immediately sealed, and the Medical Superintendent was issued a formal query and directed to report to the Ministry for further investigation.”
Ogwuche reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration to ensuring safe, ethical, and high-quality healthcare services for all residents of Benue State. He warned that the government would not hesitate to act against any facility found endangering patient lives.
The Ministry had earlier shut down St Peter and Paul Community Health Centre and Maternity in Lessel, Ushongo Local Government, over gross professional misconduct, underscoring the government’s sustained efforts to sanitise the health sector.
The Commissioner urged all healthcare workers to maintain strict professional standards or face regulatory consequences.
