The Rivers State Government has issued a stern warning to religious bodies, organizations, and individuals against conducting any form of medical outreach without prior approval from the State Ministry of Health.
This directive was announced by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, during a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Dr. Oreh emphasized that all groups, including Non-Governmental Organizations, religious institutions, and private entities, must obtain written permission from the Ministry of Health before organizing any medical outreach programs.
The Commissioner expressed concern that despite previous directives, some groups have disregarded the requirement, potentially putting public health at risk.
“This briefing serves as a public notice that no NGO, private or corporate body, church, mosque, or any individual or entity should organize any so-called free or paid medical outreach without written permission from the Rivers State Ministry of Health,” Dr. Oreh stated.
She highlighted the dangers of unapproved medical activities, noting that the Ministry has received reports of unauthorized outreaches that could compromise the safety of the public.
The Commissioner urged the public to be vigilant and to question the legitimacy of any medical outreach they encounter, ensuring that it has the necessary approval from the Ministry.
“We take the Ministry’s responsibility very seriously. If you hear of any free medical outreach, ask the right questions—do they have permission from the Ministry of Health to conduct such services?”
In a related development, Dr. Oreh disclosed that two hospitals and a spa in the state have been sealed for operating without proper registration and for engaging in unprofessional conduct. She revealed that the hospitals were using unqualified personnel to perform surgical procedures, which posed significant risks to patients’ lives.
“These hospitals are run by doctors, but in many cases, they lack the necessary surgical training required to perform these procedures. Employing unqualified personnel for surgical services is a recipe for disaster, endangering the lives of everyone involved,” Dr. Oreh warned.
The spa, which was also shut down, had been offering body enhancement services without the requisite training and qualifications.
The Commissioner noted that the spa’s proprietor, an engineer with a questionable aesthetic certification, had been misleading the public through social media promotions.
“The spa was operating under a false premise, with unqualified staff providing services they are neither trained nor certified to offer. This is not just about financial gain—it’s about the potential harm to unsuspecting clients,” she added.
Despite the closure of these facilities, Dr. Oreh assured the public that further actions would be taken to ensure that those responsible face legal consequences for jeopardizing public health in Rivers State.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Diamond Tamunokuro, reiterated the Association’s commitment to upholding professional standards. He assured that the NMA would not protect any member involved in unprofessional practices or quackery.
“The NMA will never shield any member engaging in quackery. We have internal mechanisms to address such issues, and if we find that a person is not a qualified doctor, we will hand them over to the security agencies immediately,” Dr. Tamunokuro stated.
