Cross River Govt Seals Unsafe Maternity Clinic After Patient Dies

The Cross River State Government has taken decisive action against an illegal maternity clinic in Calabar Municipality, following the tragic death of a patient who underwent surgery at the facility. The Safe Hand's Maternity Clinic was completely shut down by the State Task Force on Health Quality and Anti-Quackery after a thorough investigation uncovered multiple violations of healthcare regulations. According to Dr. Dan Abubakar, Chairman of the task force, the facility was found to be operating in a substandard environment, performing surgical procedures without the necessary approvals, and posing a serious threat to public health and safety. 'What we found here is completely unacceptable,' Dr. Abubakar stated. 'Facilities operating under these conditions are potential death traps and have no place in a healthcare system that prioritizes patient safety and quality service delivery.' The task force's inspection was prompted by a petition linking the clinic to the death of a patient who reportedly underwent surgery at the centre. The clinic, owned by Mrs. Inyang Ekeng, a Community Health Extension Officer, was found to be operating from a converted three-bedroom apartment that had been transformed into a six-bed maternity ward, with no licensed nurses on staff. Dr. Sunday Abeng, a registrar with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was found to be carrying out surgical procedures at the clinic, despite the poorly equipped and unsuitable environment. The task force also discovered that the facility was operating beyond its approved scope of practice, admitting an abandoned stroke patient despite lacking the capacity and infrastructure to manage such cases. Other infractions identified during the inspection included the absence of operational licences, inadequate consulting rooms for doctors, poor ventilation, lack of staff records and patient registers, absence of theatre records, unhygienic conditions, poor waste management systems, and the engagement of unqualified personnel. Dr. Abubakar emphasized that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu remains committed to eliminating quackery and ensuring that residents have access to safe, professional, and regulated healthcare services. The Governor is currently undertaking a facelift and constructing modern, well-equipped health facilities across Cross River State, and residents are urged to seek medical care in approved facilities rather than risk their lives in the hands of unqualified operators.