By KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Ministry for Health has ordered the closure of Hamda Faith Foundation Clinic, Karshe Daddu of Jaba Local Government’ Area in the state.
State Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni gave the order after visiting the clinic in Karshe Daddu on Thursday in Kaduna.
She said the closure was with immediate effect based on the law of Establishment, Registration, Licensing, Operation and monitoring of Health facilities in the state.
“This is the fourth time the team is visiting the clinic in Karshe Daddu without seeing the doctor and he’s failing to come over to the ministry for further discussion.
“Attempt was made by the ministry of health to compel him to come by contacting the ministry of security and home affairs which directed the Local Government Chairman to persuade him to come proved abortive and he failed to prove that he is a medical practitioner.
Baloni said the committee on Private Health Establishment (CPHE) visited the clinic in Karshe June 20, 2019 following a report from well meaning individuals from the community of the existence of the clinic.
She said it was discovered that the clinic is not registered as required by law, his qualification as a medical doctor could not be authenticated, the clinic is operating in an unethical environment and it was confirmed that the doctor didn’t go through a formal medical school.
According to her, with all the directives given to the clinic after the visit the clinic refused to comply.
“On Aug.26, 2020, another team from the CPHE visited the clinic and the aim of the visit was to closed down the facility as directed by the Executive Council of Kaduna State.
” They were not granted access to the building.all efforts to gain access failed. The team could not contact the owner of the clinic and had to leave.when eventually contacted, he promised to come to the ministry for further discussion but didn’t come.
She said the owner of the clinic later sent a letter written on September 7, 2020 titled ” Application for open of new health facilities (Clinic) at Karshe Jaba Local Government'” and didn’t do a follow-up on the letter to formalise his intention to open a health facility.
She added that another team of the CPHE visited the clinic as a follow-up to his letter on September 17 but he was not around.
” This time the team gained access to the building except the operating theater.” The unethical practice and the conditions of the 18 patients found (some have had surgery of various types) in the building cannot be accepted anywhere in the world.
She said all efforts to gain access to the theater where the surgery takes place failed.” He could not provide information on where the key to the theater was kept. The team left without seeing him for the third time he refused to comply.
The visit to the clinic for the fourth time proved abortive as the doctor and staff were not around only patients were seen around the clinic.
