Cross River shuts three private hospitals over quackery

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Cross River State Government has sealed three private hospitals in the state after uncovering cases of quackery, illegal operations, and outdated facilities that put patients’ lives at risk, including one linked to the death of a woman shortly after surgery.

The affected facilities, all in the central senatorial district, are Gifted Hands Empowerment Foundation, with branches in Ikom and Ekori; Rockalive Medical Centre in Nko; and Benson Clinic in Ikom.

The closures followed inspections carried out by the state’s Taskforce on Health Quality and Anti-Quackery, acting on intelligence reports about the facilities’ activities, according to a statement issued at the weekend by the state Ministry of Health.

The statement was jointly signed by Dr Stephen Agbor of the Department of Medical and Dental Services (DMDS) and Dr Dan Abubakar.

According to the ministry, Gifted Hands Empowerment Foundation was operating without registration and without qualified, licensed personnel, in a facility described as clinically unsafe.

“With the history of high post surgical mortality rate and it is operated with a quack called Dr Mike,” the statement said.

It disclosed that the facility’s Ekori branch, located inside the residence of one Engineer Sam Eko at Ntan Ekori, was linked to the death of a woman from Yakurr shortly after undergoing surgery on June 7.

“Gifted Hands has other clinics in Ekori located in Engineer Sam Eko’s house, Ntan Ekori.

“It was reported that a woman from Yakurr died in the facility shortly after surgical operation on June 7,” the statement added.

On Rockalive Medical Centre in Nko, the taskforce said the facility was run by unqualified personnel and lacked basic healthcare equipment, in addition to having poor facilities.

The ministry also ordered the closure of Benson Clinic in Ikom, formerly run by the late Dr Benson Iloani but now operated by his widow, a teacher with no medical training.

“It has no licensed doctor present. Dilapidated facilities, no basic hospital equipment present, and they are involved in several unethical medical practices,” the statement concluded.

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