By Usman Muhammed Zaria
The North-West Commissioners’ Forum has raised concern over the increasing number of substandard private health institutions operating across the region.
Chairman of the forum and Jigawa State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abdullahi Muhammad Kainuwa, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the State Ministry of Health in Dutse.
Addressing provosts of health institutions across Jigawa State, Dr Kainuwa said the forum was aware of the illegal and substandard operations of some private health institutions in the state.
He warned that such practices would no longer be tolerated, stressing the need for private health institutions to comply with established standards and regulations.
According to him, the forum of the north-west has constituted a taskforce committee on private health Institutions, to forcefully make sure everyone private health Institution is conducting it self according to the rules and regulations guiding the establishment of the school.
“Any school that do not meet the standard we have given the committee mandate to close the school”
Dr Kainuwa pointed out that, the exercise is also taking place across all the seven north west states.
“It is quite unfortunate some schools does not even permanent place, no permanent staff, no laboratory and other requirements”
“We are aware Government does not have enough schools to contain all the population, there is need for private schools, but that school must answer it’s name school”
Dr Kainuwa added that, the forum will take action against any regulatory agency who issued approval without ensure such school meet all the requirements.
He said, they will also charge the regulatory agencies for issuing approval to such schools without seeing school, its staffs, facilities and other requirements for the establishment of school.
He noted that, they are going to find out whoever is involved or responsible for for giving such approvals will definitely loose his job.
The Commissioner said, the forum will not stop them from doing their job, warning that the private owners must operate according to the laid down rules and regulations.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
