Anambra Shuts Illegal Birth Centre, Arrests Woman Over Alleged Caesarean Sections, Surgeries
The Anambra State Government has arrested Onyinyechi Charles, 47, who was the head of a unregistered birth centre at Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, where it was alleged that she performed caesarean sections, normal delivery and other surgical procedures without a licence or medical qualification.
The arrest came after a probe was conducted by the Anambra State Ministry of Health in an bid to stamp out illegal medical practices that pose threat to pregnant women, newborns and children.
On a site inspection, authorities themselves found surgical tools, hospital beds and other medical equipment which were said to have been used to undertake unlicensed procedures. The premises were then closed off while a case was being prepared.
Safe and competent maternal health care is essential, from a child protection point of view, to protect babies from birth. Child care experts say untrained birth attendants or unlicensed birth centers could endanger newborns and their mothers if they don’t receive proper care, leading to serious complications, infections, disabilities and preventable deaths over their lifetime.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike has termed the discovery as a serious threat to public health, cautioning the populace against patronising any unlicensed health facility. He advised pregnant women to go to accredited hospitals and qualified health providers.
The state government will keep monitoring and enforcing measures to detect and punish unqualified medical practitioners, it added, noting the importance of protecting mothers and their newborns as a public health priority.
