Three hospitals were shut in Ogun "over deaths of pregnant women"

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun

The Ogun State Government says it has ordered the immediate closure of three hospitals for alleged quackery that led to the deaths of two pregnant women during delivery.

In a statement from the Ministry of Health made available to our correspondent on Thursday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, ordered the closure of Shepherd Clinic and Maternity, Ayo Ni Medical Centre and Dayo Maternity Home, all in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

Ipaye, who was represented by the Deputy Director Hospital Services, Dr. Solomon Shokunbi during a monitoring exercise, said the two pregnant women (names withheld) bled to death because they were attended to by quack doctors.

Ipaye explained that one of the deceased women had initially been on admission at Dayo Maternity Home, before she was referred to Ayo Ni Medical Centre, where she later died after efforts by the former to take the delivery of the baby proved abortive.

The commissioner decried what he called the criminal and inhuman activities of quack doctors, adding that government had since commenced the registration and revalidation exercise for all private hospitals in the state.

Ipaye said no fewer than 43 private health facilities have been shut for non-compliance with the exercise in recent times.

He urged the people of the state to heed government’s warning by desisting from patronising quacks and unlicensed health facilities.

He also called on members of the public to report any activity of quack doctors in their communities or call the hotline of the Department of Hospital.