Anambra Govt partners WHO to monitor, eliminate quack health facilities

The Anambra Government in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) have stepped up healthcare facilities monitoring to eliminate quackery and improve quality healthcare services delivery to residents.
Dr Afam Obidike, the state’s Commissioner for Health, at the official launch of the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Unit (ASHAFAMU) and its e-platform, on Tuesday in Awka, said government would not tolerate illegal health practices.
Obidike said the unit set required minimum standards for operations of health facilities, both in public and private healthcare sectors.
“When we resumed office, 80 per cent of healthcare services was being driven by the private sector without regulations. This is why many quack doctors are operating healthcare facilities in the state.
“This was why Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration in partnership with WHO decided to establish ASHAFAMU to ensure quality healthcare delivery for all residents of the state.
“With this unit, Anambra’s ASHAFAMU will become the second government-owned accreditation body in Nigeria, after Lagos state, to guarantee patients’ safety.
“The state government will no longer tolerate unprofessional practices, quackery, lack of qualified medical personnel, to non-registration of facilities and lack of basic equipment, which can compromise the health and the well-being of patients,” he said.
The commissioner lauded WHO and the state’s ICT agency for designing the ASHAFAMU e-platform.
Also speaking, Mr Tony Mobuike, Chairman, House Committee on Health at the state Assembly, urged health providers in Anambra to embrace the provisions of the accreditation policy.(NAN)