The Nigerian Medical Association, Enugu State Chapter, has decried the rate of quackery in the medical profession, saying the situation has led to the death of many Nigerians.
Chairman of the chapter, Dr Celestine Ugwuoke, said this in Nsukka, at a news conference on how to end medical quackery in the state.
The Consultant Radiologist at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, said for the medical profession in the state to solve the health problems of residents, activities of quacks must be dealt
with to ensure quality healthcare services.
He said, “The state must get rid of quacks and charlatans in the profession to restore dignity and guarantee quality healthcare. Quacks have caused the death of many unsuspecting citizens; some of them are taking up tasks outside their medical training.
“It’s unfortunate that some nurses now perform surgery, which is outside the field of their training, while some patent medicine shop owners, popularly known as chemists now give intravenous injections to patients.”
Suggesting a way out, the NMA chairman acknowledged that efforts by the association to stem the tide in the past had not yielded the much-needed results due to some factors.
He congratulated the new Enugu State governor for his successful inauguration and appealed to him
to set up an Anti-quack Taskforce that would include government officials, security agencies and NMA members to fish out the bad eggs.
The consultant also urged the government to ensure adequate remuneration and good welfare for medical practitioners in the country, stressing that it would discourage the present exodus of health workers.
(NAN)
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