BY ITA WILLIAMS, CALABAR
A medical doctor, (name withheld), who hails from Benue State, and three others have been rounded up by the Nigeria Police attached to the Cross River State Taskforce on Quackery and Related Violation in the Healthcare delivery system in the state.
This was made known to newsmen during a press briefing at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar over the week by the Taskforce Chairman, Dr David Ushie
He said that the culprit and others conspired with the 3 unqualified persons to carry out fake surgeries on 9 patients before the Taskforce swooped on them.
Dr Ushie also disclosed that the arrested persons have been engaging in sharp practice, recruiting quacks over the years In partnership with the man who owns the said property.
The task force chairman also said no fewer than 13 uncertified healthcare facilities have been closed down.
His words he said, “This briefing is about fake doctors operating in Aladim Community of Ogoja Local government area, it’s about the sad incident that tip-offered a tip-off concerning some wonder surgeons in the community”
“My team and I left Calabar by 12:30 AM of, Sept 8, 2022, to ensure the offenders did not escape as they usually did”.
“As we arrived in the w hours, we immediately contacted the Chairman of Council, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor and the DPO of Ceja A Suppl and. Suppl Horsfall, who both confirmed the incidence.
“Our I destinations took us to Health Center Aladim, venue of the crime. After a full day interview and facility assessment, we made the following discoveries”.
”There were ten (10) patients on admission. Nine (9) of the ten patients had eleven (11) ‘surgeries’.
”Amongst the 9,3 patients who had four (4) ‘surgeries or ‘hernia’, the majority of the seven (7) had ‘surgeries’ for ‘appendectomies, one patient had two surgeries’ for ‘appendix’ (1) and ‘hernia’ (1)”
”At least 5 of the surgery recognizable as superficial skin cuts giving patients the false sense that they had surgery”
The chairman also confirmed that the matter Is still under investigation and that those arrested would be charged to court accordingly.
Dr Ushie, therefore, advised the general public to desist from patronising uncertified health facilities and quack doctors in the state to avoid endangering their lives.
