… Agency urges Amuwo-Odofin residents to report unregistered clinics and medical facilities as Lagos steps up healthcare monitoring
The Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has called for stronger collaboration with residents of Lagos State’s riverine communities as part of efforts to curb quackery and unprofessional healthcare practices.
The Director of Research and Statistics, Dr. Olorunfemi Olonire, who represented the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, made the appeal during a sensitisation and town hall engagement hosted in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, where the agency reiterated its commitment to quality healthcare regulation and public safety.
Dr. Olivier stressed that effective healthcare monitoring cannot be achieved by the government alone. She said community participation is vital to identifying illegal clinics, substandard maternity homes, and unlicensed diagnostic centres.
“Residents play a crucial role in safeguarding the health system,” Dr. Olonire remarked. “We urge the public to report illegal or unsafe health facilities to HEFAMAA. Together, we can halt medical malpractice and enhance the quality of care across Lagos State.”
Responding to calls from stakeholders on the need to decentralise the agency’s operations for greater efficiency, Dr. Olonire said the process is already underway. She affirmed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is committed to improving healthcare accessibility and enhancing regulatory enforcement through HEFAMAA and the Ministry of Health.
“The protection of citizens from substandard medical care remains a top priority. Our focus is to ensure only qualified professionals and properly registered institutions operate in the health sector,” she explained.
The sensitisation programme aims to educate residents on how to identify accredited medical facilities and utilise HEFAMAA’s official platforms for verification. The awareness campaign is expected to extend to all local government areas in the coming weeks as part of the agency’s drive to rebuild public trust in the health system.
During his presentation titled “The Importance of Registration and QR Codes,” the Chief Nutrition Officer at HEFAMAA, Mr. Richard Olusanya, outlined the agency’s regulatory mandate and ongoing efforts to enforce minimum standards across hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, and diagnostic centres in Lagos State.
Mr. Olusanya emphasised that no person without adequate qualifications is permitted to operate a health facility.
He condemned the rise in unqualified individuals offering multiple healthcare services, describing it as quackery that poses serious risks to patient safety.
“It is unacceptable for people to claim specialisation across multiple fields without proper certification,” Olusanya warned. “These practices compromise the integrity of the health sector and must end immediately.”
He added that HEFAMAA conducts routine inspections twice yearly and requires all registered facilities to display their accreditation certificates prominently. Doing so enhances transparency, boosts patient confidence, and reinforces accountability among healthcare providers.
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