The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, has lamented that there are too many unauthorised mortuaries in the state.
He said the state Governor Bassey Otu has approved a 30-member Anti Quackery Taskforce to crack down on such mortuaries as well as all practices that promote falsehood in both private and public health sector space in the State.
He lamented the infiltration of the State with all manners of health services and training institutions in complete discordance with acceptable standards and practices.
“Everywhere in the state, mortuaries are springing up everywhere in the state. People are running medical outreaches without reference to approval authorities. Quacks are everywhere providing services and killing people. These anomalies must be nipped in the bud,” Ayuk said.
Reeling the terms of reference to the taskforce members, he said the Governor has directed a clamp down on all unacceptable practices and their owners including unauthorized training schools, with the charge to carry out their objective without fear or favour and bring culprits to book no matter whose ox is gored.
The Commissioner told the taskforce to work closely with regulatory bodies in the state to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures in both private and public health sectors.
The taskforce, which has membership drawn from security agencies, legal backgrounds and other technical areas, has Dr Dan Abubakar as State Coordinator; Dr Effiong Mkpanam, Dr Magnus Nkoro Assinya and Mr. MacFrank Abuh are coordinating the South, Central and North respectively, while Dan Mgbe, Esq serves as the legal adviser.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Abubakar expressed appreciation to the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve and assured that the taskforce will dispense its mandate to the best of its ability for the overall benefit of the State.
Health Commissioner Ayuk laments unauthorised mortuaries, medical centres in Cross River
