Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Oyo State Team Leader of Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), Mrs. Stella Akinso, has called for stiff penalties as a way of stopping quackery in the health sector which has led to the death of many Nigerians.

She made the call in Ibadan, at a Media Round Table on 'Save Motherhood' organized by Development Communications (DevComs), Network in conjunction with NURHI. 

While speaking on the rationale behind the programme, she said it was to ensure that women are free from complications prior, during and after child birth. 

Akinso urged governments and private individuals to allocate substantive amount of money to all areas of health including family planning, stop quackery through employment of medical personnels - such as doctors and nurses - and increase funding when necessary so as to avert cases of wrong prescription and administration of drugs and injections on innocent Nigerians. 

While speaking on the coroner inquest into the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, she said it was unfortunate that the man who administered drugs on the former governor was found to be a quack which means if the person is not punished, more people will die as a result of such acts.

According to her, the report of the coroner which indicated that Adeleke died of drug overdose administered on him by an unqualified personnel, stating that this must be looked into while the government must do something about it. 

She said the penalty or punishment for quacks is important in order to deter others who engage in such acts.

Akinso while stating that many people have died as a result of wrong prescription, recommendation and administration of drugs and injections, called on the Federal Government to make laws and implement same that will provide stiff penalty and punishment for quacks who are all over the country.

She said the presence of quacks across the country is responsible for many unreported cases of unnecessary deaths like that of Senator Adeleke which is widely reported in the media due to his status. 

She said, "I believe that the government will do something about quackery."

"I learnt that the man who gave him the injection is not qualified as a doctor. He is a quack. This guy had been treating him for a long period and is a quack.

"This is the time government need to do something about quackery. 

"You and I are educated and have the opportunity to go to Adeoyo or UCH, what about the women in the village? When there is quackery, there will be more complications, governments have to do something about it because a quack will recommend anything to patients." 

Former Chairman of Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Muideen Olatunji, also enjoined members of the public to patronise experts and not quacks in order to get quality health.

He called on the state government to invest more on infrastructure in the health sector in order to improve health condition in the state.