AKHA WORRIED OVER SPATE OF QUACKERY IN A'IBOM HEALTH SECTOR

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has expressed worry over what it described as nefarious and inimical activities of quacks in healthcare delivery in the state.

In a Motion sponsored by the Member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Bob, at Tuesday Plenary, the House pointed out that scores have been sent to their early graves in the state, as a result of the unwholesome activities of quacks who peddle death in place of health.

Hon. Bob in his Motion, informed the House, that the prescription of drugs by unlicensed operators of patent medicine facilities and use of unqualified persons such as auxiliary nurses to provide services in private health facilities, have led to increased morbidity and mortality rate.

He listed harmful acts perpetuated by the quacks to include wrong diagnosis, mismanagement of patients and drugs, including untherapeutic termination of pregnancies, maintaining that these practices had extreme and irreversible damages on victims.

"Some health facilities are illegally operated without further registration, some whose licences have expired are yet to be renewed and there are those practicing beyond the scope or schedule of which they are registered", he said.

Bob therefore prayed the House to direct the Ministry of Health to set up an efficient and proper mechanism to identify and root out quacks in every health related area across the state.

He also said the House should urge the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and other relevant professional bodies within the state health sector to do everything within their powers, to cleanse the system of quacks who are not duly registered with them.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, while responding, said the situation needed urgent attention and therefore referred the motion to the Committee on Health, directing it to report back to the House within two weeks.