HEFAMAA Cracks Down on Quackry in Ojo Lagos

The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) is pushing its fight against fake doctors and illegal clinics right into the heart of Lagos communities, with a fresh sensitisation drive now hitting Ojo Local Government Area.

At the recent town hall meeting and awareness campaign held in Ojo, residents were told in clear terms: stop risking your life with unregistered “mushroom” facilities. The Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, who was represented by Deputy Director of Health Education, Mrs. Oladunni Omonike, hammered on the message that every Lagosian must take full responsibility for their health by patronising only licensed and accredited providers.

“Our advice to Lagosians is simple: they should patronise only registered, government-approved facilities for their healthcare needs,” Omonike quoted Dr. Idowu as saying. She explained that when a facility is properly registered with HEFAMAA, the government knows who they are and can hold them accountable if anything goes wrong. “But if people patronise unregistered or mushroom facilities, it becomes difficult to intervene or protect them,” she warned.

The campaign, which has already covered 19 local government areas across the state, is designed to bring regulatory awareness straight to the people. Residents are now being taught how to spot genuine health centres using official registration insignia, the HEFAMAA logo and scannable QR codes displayed at approved facilities.

Omonike revealed that public response has been massive, with turnout beating expectations in many areas. “In some places, we expected about 200 facilities but attendance exceeded that number. We even had to get more chairs,” she said, adding that the high level of questions and engagement shows residents are finally waking up to the dangers.

The increased awareness is already yielding results. More members of the public are reporting suspicious operations, allowing HEFAMAA to move faster. “I cannot give an exact figure, but we have shut down more than five facilities already this year, and we are only in February. Even yesterday, we sealed one,” Omonike disclosed, stressing that the agency’s enforcement is now swifter and stronger than ever.

Providing deeper insight into the agency’s work, HEFAMAA’s Chief Nutrition Officer, Mr. Richard Olusanya, traced the body’s roots back to its establishment in 2006 specifically to regulate hospitals, clinics and maternity homes across Lagos. He insisted that only qualified and licensed practitioners – registered doctors or nurses – should head any medical establishment.

“We cannot tolerate scenarios where a single person dabbles in ophthalmology, dentistry, and general medicine – that’s a gateway to quackery and patient harm,” Olusanya stated firmly. He added that the agency carries out routine inspections every six months to check staffing, equipment standards and environmental safety, while warning that small clinics are not meant to operate like full hospitals offering 24-hour comprehensive services.

Olusanya urged all facility owners to display their registration certificates prominently so patients can verify legitimacy at a glance.

The ongoing statewide exercise is part of the Lagos State Government’s bigger push for quality healthcare under the #AGreaterLagosRising agenda. HEFAMAA has consistently maintained zero tolerance for quackery, sealing dozens of illegal outfits in recent years to protect unsuspecting residents from harm.

Lagosians have been advised to always verify any health facility through official channels before seeking treatment. The message from Ojo is loud and clear: your health is your wealth – don’t gamble it with quacks.