By Murtala Muhammad
Bauchi State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has sealed a private health facility named Community Clinic Durum for operating without genuine licence and proper certification from the ministry.
The facility is located at Durum village along Bauchi-Ningi road in Bauchi local government area of the state.
During an inspection visit the clinic was found engaging in an unprofessional and unethical practice where a minor was seen lying on a dirty bed and being transfused with a full blood-bag, which may be higher than what the child requires.
When questioned on the process of screening the clinic was using in knowing the patient blood count, and ascertaining whether the blood being transfused is safe for transfusion, the facility manager could not provide answers to that regard.
The facility manager was also unable to clearly explain his acclaimed certificate of operating the clinic, as it was the mandate of the state ministry of health and social welfare to issue licence or any documents in that respect.
These were some of the reasons, the inspection team led by the ministry’s Director, Medical Services decided to seal the clinic and directed the police to arrest the facility manager, whose highest qualification is Community Health Officer, CHO for further investigation and subsequent prosecution.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria shortly after the inspection and seal of the clinic, the team leader and Director Medical Services in the Ministry, Dr Sulaiman Auwal Abubakar said the operator of the sealed clinic was under investigation by the police, assuring that as soon as it is concluded, he would be charged before a court of law.
