By Okwudiri Okafor, Umuahia
Medical doctors in Abia State have described the directive by the State government halting unauthorized medical outreaches by individuals or groups as a right step, saying the measure will check the activities of medical quacks.
Chairman of the state branch of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Ezuruike Ezinwa disclosed the position of the professional body in a press release made available to People and Politics in Umuahia,the state capital.
The association’s position came on the heels of an incident which occurred at Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area (LGA) of the state where several persons landed in hospital after receiving treatment from a team which claimed to be medical personnel during a medical outreach.
Dr Ezinwa noted the association’s grave concern on the incident which, he stated, involved unauthorised delivery of healthcare services and distribution of drugs to the public by uncertified persons under the guise of free medical mission.
He disclosed that the incident has become more concerning because of the untoward effects on recipients of drugs and services administered on them at the event, and thumbed up the State Government, through the Ministry of Health, for its swift and efficient response to the incident.
He also commended the state Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr (Mrs) Ifeyinwa Uma Kalu, Director for Public Health, Dr (Mrs) Agomoh Orieji, and other members of the team from the Ministry and outside who swung into immediate action to forestall loss of lives.
Dr Ezinwa said: “NMA Abia has been engaging agencies of the Government on the menace of quackery and practice of Medicine by uncertified, unqualified persons that has endangered the lives of Abians. We believe that this provides an avenue to fully review and take actions to put a resounding stop to this.
“Government should fully authorise, empower and mobilise the relevant agencies to fish out, apprehend and bring to book these uncertified and unscrupulous quacks that threaten the lives of citizens in Abia State.
“A multidisciplinary team that includes our security agencies should be mobilised to comb through the State and fish out these death merchants. NMA Abia State is willing to work with this team to carry out this life-saving task.
“We also caution all who intend to embark on free medical services to seek authorisation from the relevant authorities and always use trained and certified professionals.
“Let it be known to the public that anyone practising Medicine and any of its specialties without a license from the appropriate bodies is a quack.”
He prayed for the speedy recovery of all involved even as he warned the general public to beware of any such Greek gifts.
