The Adamawa State Government has sealed off eight health training colleges that had no operational requirements.
A committee of officials of the Ministry of Health went around on Thursday to seal off the eight institutions located within the two municipal local government areas of Yola North and Yola South.
The officials shut down six of the colleges of health in Yola North Local Government Area and two in Yola South LGA.
The affected institutions shut down by the officials led by the state Director of Public Health, Isaac Kadala, included Fat-Hur-Rahman College of Health Sciences and Technology, Wuro Hausa, Yola; College of Health Technology, Almashkur International Academy, Yola; and the School of Health Technology, Dougirei, Jimeta.
The others included Savannah Model College of Health Sciences and Technology, Freetown Avenue, Jimeta; Jimeta Central College of Health Science and Technology, FOMWAN, NEPA Road, Yola; School of Health Technology, Wuro Kuturu, Jimeta; Nafan College of Health Science and Technology, Jambutu, Yola; and Bell Dome College of Health Sciences and Technology, Nyako Quarters, Jimeta.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Isuwa Misali, said the ministry cannot compromise the health sector, hence the decision to go hard on the affected institutions.
He added that the institutions did not meet the requirements for operating the way they claimed to.
DAILY POST reports that the clampdown on private colleges of health not duly approved for the courses they offer started in July last year when the Adamawa State House of Assembly announced that it was investigating the operations of 19 existing colleges.
The state executive followed up later in September, when Governor Ahmadu Fintiri himself announced the proscription of unlicensed health training colleges.
However, no practical step was taken, and the affected colleges remained open until the sealing-off exercise on Thursday, which is expected to be extended to other parts of the state in the coming days.
Adamawa closes 8 unlicensed health training colleges