From: Linus Oota, Lafia
Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has shut down 47 illegal hospitals, clinics and laboratories in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Daniel Iya, who disclosed this during a visit of clinics and other health centres in the state, said the action was necessitated by the proliferation of illegal hospitals, clinics and laboratories in the area which pose serious dangers to the people.
According to him “The state government has accorded top priority to the well being of the people hence the closure of the facilities, the operation is not to witch hunt anybody but to ensure sanity in the health system and to put health practitioners back to the right path”
He noted that any health practitioners who want to operate in the state must follow due process and do the needful, adding that the ministry will continue to monitor the activities of all facilities in the state to ensure that they do not operate beyond their limit.
He, however, charged health practitioners in the state to abide by the ethics of the profession, stressing that anyone found wanting will be made to face the wrath of the law “The ministry will continue to discharge its functions until the system is fully sanitised from the activities of quacks”
Among the sealed facilities are Omaku Specialist clinics, access clinics, charity hospital and maternity Apex care hospital.
Meanwhile, Governor Al-Makura has donated two vehicles to Radio Nigeria Precious FM Lafia, an 18-seater bus and a Nissan salon car to the management of the station, adding that the donation is in fulfilment of the promise made by the governor.
He said that as a media friendly governor, his administration will ensure that they operates in a conducive environment to enhance their efficiency that will bring rapid development and dissemination of information on government activities.
Al-Makura described the media as the mirror of the society which plays greater role in the success of every administration while calling on the media to always give constructive criticism that would assist government carry out its function for the overall development of the state.