280 Clinics To Be Closed Down

Ernest Sumelong, Olive Ejang  & Elvis Nnabi (UB Journalism Student On Internship)

Some 280 clinics and health centres operating as Common Initiative Groups, CIGs, in the Southwest Province will be sealed within a week."These clinics are centres for abortion; they have unqualified staff; they lack equipment and sell unknown drugs.

Dejected proprietors of closed down clinics

They constitute public danger and must close down within seven days," Cultural and Social Adviser at Southwest Governor's Office, Victor Enow Ayuk, told "illegal clinic operators", July 21, at the Youth and Animation Centre, Buea.
   

Just one item made up the agenda of the meeting: sensitising illegal clinic proprietors on the Provincial Order to close down illegal health structures in the Province.
   

Ayuk said the clinics do not operate within the context of the law. "They have no authorisation or any official documents from the Ministry of Public Health to create a health structure; they are not registered in their national order as well as where they have been authorised to practise medicine in Cameroon.

The majority of people selling drugs are not from the medical field and as a result of this, some mix medicine with cosmetics and sell illegal and expired drugs to patients," he stated.He faulted illegal clinic proprietors for operating in the health sector with documents from the Delegation of Agriculture.

He said this was the third meeting to sensitise people against the operation of illegal clinics in the name of CIGs but that little or nothing has been done to revert the situation.

The Southwest Delegate for Public Health, Dr. Mafany Njie, said the Governor received orders from the Minister of Public Health, through the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, to close down illegal health structures in the Province.

"The right channels for operating clinics are available, people just want to be lawless. Some people just set up structures, get equipment from donors, start operating before seeking administrative approval," Dr. Njie said. He told The Post that the aim of the closure is to put some order within the health sector and save people from danger.

Only 40 proprietors and representatives of the 280 declared illegal clinics turned out. Most of them refuted the fact that they were illegally operating clinics. Some identified themselves as philanthropic organisations, adding that they have nothing to do with clinics, while others brandished documents showing authorisation for them to operate.
Dr. Kingsley Eban, who represented Omo Clinic in Mamfe, argued that his clinic had been authorised in the 80s and is well recognised.
   

The proprietor of Civil Service Organisation Tiko, Alphonse Njana, expressed dismay that he was identified as an illegal clinic. He pointed out that his organisation is a philanthropic organisation, which caters for orphans and the underprivileged. He said that his organisation was launched and is encouraged by government authorities.
   

The proprietor of St. Anthony's Foundation of Mile 16, Buea, Mrs. Ebob Ashu, argued that they have never been sensitised on how to go about operating clinics."The real illegal clinic operators and medicine sellers have not been penalised.

The government has chosen to punish us who have some status", she queried the Governor's representative.Arguments raised and documents brandished sparked off a controversy as to the right procedure of operating a clinic.

The Governor's representative insisted that those who got authorisations from Divisional Officers could only operate as CIG's and not as clinics. According to him, DO's lack   the competence to authorise the creation and operation of a clinic.
   

The Delegate for Public Health noted that an authorisation to operate a clinic comes from the Ministry of Public Health. He said the Ministry of Public Health gives authorisation to members of the Order of Doctors and other health personnel after application.

Within a period of three years, the proprietor forwards his medical reports regularly. It is after this period that such a clinic is authorised to operate.Dr. Eban of Omo Clinic told The Post the procedure for operating a clinic is too long and cumbersome.

"When you become a medical doctor, to become a member of the National Order of Doctors is like going through a medical school itself. The procedure to operate a clinic is discouraging and pushes people to operate illegal clinics. The government does not employ medical officers; they become jobless and have to do something to help themselves and the community," he lamented.
    

Eban quoted a law, which gives members of the medical order the right to function after three months of having deposited an application without receiving a negative reply.
   

Responding to questions as to the impact of the closure to the community, Dr. Njie noted that it would be very beneficial, since, as he put it, such clinics are a danger to the community. Victor Ayuk contended, "This will help the population to go to government hospitals, where they can get quality treatment."

Some medical officers lamented the unemployment and suffering this was likely going to bring to many families.Ayuk did not state how long it has taken the administration to notice the existence of these illegal clinics.

Meanwhile, a release signed by Southwest Governor Louis Eyeya Zanga, also ordered the SDO for Meme, Daniel Panjouono, to stop the illegal clinics in his area of jurisdiction and to invite their operators to a sensitisation meeting ahead Friday, July 21.

Those affected in Kumba include Women in Health, CIG, Hope for Health, Medical Foundation, Tsobgny Medical Centre, Help the People Health Foundation, Thank You Jesus Clinic, Diagno Pato Sante, Rural Health Care Foundation, Relief Health Care Foundation, Alpha Labo Medical, Save the People Health Foundation, Community Health Care Foundation, Ring Land Health CIG, Christ The King Health Unit, Nightingale Medical Centre, WOHEMS Nursing School and St John Ambulance.

Rural Health Foundation and Community First Aid, in Mbalangi are equally affected.
The proprietor of Tsobgny Medical Centre Kumba, Dr. Eugene Tsobgny, told The Post that the Governor would have set up a commission of inquiry, to investigate the said medial centres considered illegal.

He refuted claims that his own institution is illegal because he said he got his authorization in July 7, 2001 with registration Number 3937.Tsobgny faulted the Kumba District Medical Officer, Dr. Orock, for not contacting them before seeing the Governor.
According to him, he only operates a nursing school and no longer does consultation or sells drugs.
   

Of the 280 clinics declared illegal, 170 are found in Fako Division, 21 in Meme and 11 in Manyu. Kupe Muanengouba and Ndian Divisions have nine and two respectively.

Comments

[Moh Manyu]

Dr Eban Kingsley,
I will like to advice you to be careful the way you go about this your Omo Clinic issue.
Doctors are trained to cure not to kill. And you are surely aware that certain criteria have to be met for you to go about performing surgical operations on patients. And this must be done in a clinically safe theatre with the right instruments and staff. You know very well that you donot yet have the Medical skills necessary to do the type of things you are doing in Mamfe in the name of Medicine. You better get the necessary skills and qualifications or you will soon find yourself in a tight corner.
I personally see you as a disgrace to your former Medical School in Nigeria. What has become of all the lessons on Medical Ethics?
Since you have put money before the health of your patients you donot only risk your career but your life as well. And for your information, OMO Clinic has never had a Licence to perform Medical Operations.
You will probable learn the hardway.
Moh Manyu

[Eban]

Moh Manyu or whatever your name is, I hope you know that you are simply a coward. If you were brave you would have identified yourself by signing your name. Eban Kingsley is a distinguished scholar and a medical doctor. The records are there for all to see.
Whatever you thing you can do, come out clear and lets take it from there.
Eban