An agency of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA), has sealed 17 health facilities out of 1304 facilities monitored by the agency across the state between July and August 2021.
Executive Secretary, Dr Abiola Idowu disclosed this during an enlightenment campaign organized to educate residents in the Epe division of the state on the roles and responsibilities of HEFAMAA.
The affected health facilities, according to her, were shut down for lack of basic equipment and non-compliance with regulatory standards of the agency.
“The affected facilities were shut for lack of basic equipment, personnel working without required qualifications, operating facilities without licenses as well as practising beyond schedule and training of auxiliary nurses who can become a menace to the society as they can set set-up and run illegal facilities in the future” she stated.
Speaking on the importance of the campaign, Idowu said it is aimed at sensitizing the public on the need to expose quacks in the system to safeguard the health of Lagosians.
She explained further that HEFAMAA was established by the Health Sector Reform Law of 2006 with the mandate to set the required minimum standards for the operations of public and private health facilities in the State, as well as accredit, inspect, monitor and license health facilities both public and private.
She said, “I was to implore new health facilities to register with the agency before commencing operations. Also, operators of existing registered facilities should ensure that they promptly renew their certificates to avoid sanctions.
The steps involved in getting new facilities registered are easy. The first step is to address a letter of intent to the State Commissioner for Health. Such a letter would be directed to the agency for necessary actions.
Other important requirements include the certificate of incorporation, evidence of tax payment, resident status, qualification of the personnel, the standard of equipment amongst others.”
Highlights of the sensitization campaign include advocacy visits to the Medical Directors of Epe and Ketu-Ejinrin General Hospital, the Medical Officer of Health, Epe Primary Healthcare Center and other public places and markets including the Oluwo Fishmarket.
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