LAGOS SHUTS 16 HEALTH FACILITIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY STANDARDS.

November 17, 2020 - by admin - 67 Comments.

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Press Release by

Muyideen Ayokunle Uthman

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

HEALTH FACILITY MONITORING AND ACCREDITATION AGENCY, HEFAMAA

PRESS RELEASE

LAGOS SHUTS 16 HEALTH FACILITIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY STANDARDS.

… Restates Commitment to Improve Healthcare Delivery

The Lagos State Government through the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA has shut-down 16 health facilities across the State for non-compliance with regulatory standards.

The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Abiola Idowu who disclosed this in her office at Plot 6, Tisco Plaza, Alausa, Ikeja while reviewing the activities of the Agency in the months of September and October, 2020. She further explained that out of a total of 280 health facilities monitored by the Agency in the months under review, 16 facilities were shut down for infractions ranging from quackery, operating beyond schedule, lack of qualified medical personnel to non-registration of facilities, training of auxiliary nurses and lack of basic equipment.

Dr Idowu warned that the State government will not tolerate such unprofessional practices that could compromise the health and the well-being of patients and undermine the huge investment of the State Government in qualitative healthcare delivery. She reiterated that any facility owner or operator found perpetrating these acts will be prosecuted accordingly and the facility sealed.

“These unethical practices could compromise the health status of patients and undermine the huge investment of Government in qualitative healthcare delivery. Hence, any healthcare facility owner or operator found perpetrating these acts will be prosecuted accordingly and the facility sealed,” she warned.

She stated further that sealed health facilities can be reopened after all standards and instructions have been effected and approval granted by the Honourable Commissioner.

The Executive Secretary disclosed that 14 facilities were reopened in the two months under review after complying with the set standards.

She maintained that the Agency will continue to insist that the environment for the delivery of healthcare services should be suitable for the promotion and maintenance of good health and therefore urged health facility operators to abide strictly by the standards to avoid being sanctioned.

HEFAMAA boss reminded the facility owners to complete their online registration or renewal using the HEFAMAA e-portal, collect the Agency’s logo and display it at a position in the premises where members of the public can see it.

She disclosed that the Agency attended to eight petitions from members of the public in the month of October alone and therefore cautioned the people to be vigilant and patronize only Government- accredited health facilities with the Agency’s logo or proof of registration with the Agency. She pleaded that those behind illegal operations should be reported to the agency for prompt action.

She hinted that the Agency recently held a stakeholders’ session to develop a 5-year strategic plans which according to her will point the way forward for the Agency in the next five years.

She summarised her expectations as “Some of the key areas we are focusing on include leveraging on technology to provide efficient services, training and retraining of HEFAMAA staff and facility operators, increasing community participations and health education as well as increasing our engagements with stakeholders and the general public”.

She concluded her briefing with these words “It is our belief that the strategic plan will go a long way in addressing most of the issues raised by stakeholders and the general public as well as provide the Agency with the opportunity to achieve the vision of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in safeguarding the health and well-being of the citizens,” .