The Lagos State Government has intensified its public health campaign to curb the growing menace of medical quackery, warning residents against patronising unlicensed clinics and unqualified practitioners.
At a sensitisation and town hall meeting held in Mushin, the Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, called on citizens to take responsibility by identifying and reporting fake medical establishments that put lives at risk across the state.
The event, themed “The Roles and Responsibilities of HEFAMAA in Lagos State,” highlighted the agency’s ongoing drive to strengthen regulatory oversight and promote safe, quality healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the programme, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr Abiola Idowu, represented by Dr Olonire Olufemi, Head of Research and Statistics, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safeguarding public health.
“At HEFAMAA, our primary goal is to enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare services in Lagos. We are not an enforcement arm of the police or an adversary to medical practitioners. Our message is simple, comply with the basic requirements and ensure your facilities are duly registered,” Dr Idowu said.
Residents were also educated on how to identify accredited health facilities, which must visibly display the HEFAMAA logo, registration certificate, and a unique QR code. The QR code enables patients to verify a facility’s legitimacy and provide instant feedback to the agency.
Dr Idowu encouraged Lagos residents to report any clinic, public or private, that operates without proper registration, employs unqualified personnel, or fails to maintain acceptable hygiene standards.
“We are particularly concerned about illegal training of auxiliary nurses, use of unapproved medical equipment, and facilities that endanger public safety,” she added.
Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tunbosun Haruna Aruwe, commended HEFAMAA for taking the campaign to the grassroots.
“This initiative is both timely and impactful. It empowers residents to recognise legitimate health facilities. We’ll continue partnering with community leaders to spread the message across all wards,” he said.