In line with the M.O.R.E Agenda of the Oborevwori led administration, the Delta State government has sealed 18 private health care facilities in the state that falls short of the operational requirements as outlined by the Ministry of Health.

Dr Joseph Onojaeme, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, made this known during the monitoring and inspection visit of officials of the health ministry to the various private health care facilities in the state.

Dr. Onojaeme, who was spoke for by Dr Mathew Anibor, the Deputy Director, Medical Services and Training, stated that no body or company has the right to operate a private healthcare facility unless such a facility had been duly registered by the ministry as provided for in the Private Healthcare Facilities Law of May, 2019.

He said the sealed facilities fell short of the law, as it concerns registration and operations of private healthcare facilities in the state.

He said, “This exercise is on-going, as more unscheduled visits would be made to other registered facilities to ascertain their status with respect to annual renewal fees. Yesterday, we were in Ughelli and today we are working in Warri and its environs and intend to move to Sapele, Oghara, Agbor, Asaba among other major towns in the state, not excluding the rural areas.

“The premises were sealed as a result of the facilities not being registered to operate as private healthcare facility by the ministry, default in payment of annual renewal fees, as well as those facilities employing and training auxiliary nurses, among other offences.

“We want to use this medium to advise private healthcare facilities operating in the state to do the needful by registering their facilities with the Ministry of Health and also urged residents to report any facilities which they suspect are involved in unwholesome practices.”