The Rivers State Ministry of Health has sealed eight health facilities and arrested four individuals over alleged medical quackery, impersonation and the operation of unregistered healthcare centres.
The arrests followed the ministry’s inspection and enforcement exercise conducted in October.
According to the ministry, one of the major discoveries was an illegal health facility operating within a residential compound at 27 Victoria Street.
During the operation, two suspected medical quacks, identified as Mr Ataisi Jephtha and Mrs Mgboawaji Edwin, were allegedly caught attempting to perform a thyroidectomy on an unsuspecting patient.
A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure involving the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.
The ministry’s enforcement action forms part of efforts to tackle medical quackery and prevent unqualified individuals from carrying out procedures that could endanger patients’ lives.
