The arrest of two quack medical doctors within one week again brought to the fore a very troubling trend in the health sector which needs urgent attention. A week ago, a quack doctor, Ibrahim Mustapha, was arrested by men of the Department of State Services [DSS] in Adamawa State. Mustapha, who has been operating as a doctor for about five years, was said to have carried out over 500 surgical operations. Fifteen persons under his care died within that period.
Adamawa State DSS Director Bola Olori said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that Mustapha holds an NBTE certificate. He perfected the act in Gombe State, where he worked as a ward attendant in several clinics. He was aided by a practising doctor who gave him sample copies of his NECO result, MBBS of Bayero University, Kano, NYSC discharge certificate and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria [MDCN] annual registration licence, all of which he forged.
“The suspect subsequently gained employment into the Adamawa State Health Management Board in October 2015 as a doctor and rose to the post of Principal Medical Officer, serving at the cottage hospitals in Mayo Belwa and Fufore. Prior to his arrest, the suspect, in the past five years, performed hundreds of surgical operations in several hospitals in the state.”
Remarkably, the suspect did not show any remorse when he was arrested. Rather, he claimed he knew what he was doing and that he taught some qualified doctors “the right thing.” He even attributed his current ordeal to a jealous colleague who reported him. Also, in Osun State, the police arrested another quack doctor, 30-year-old Rafiu Naheem, a school certificate holder who did not undergo any medical training. Command’s spokesperson SP Adekunle Ajisebutu said the suspect had been operating an unregistered clinic in a one-bedroom mud apartment, treating unsuspecting patients of different ailments.
Ajisebutu said, “The suspect had been placing patients on admission and had been procuring abortions and handling very complex medical conditions, which he lacks professional expertise to handle, thereby endangering the precious lives of innocent people who patronised him.” He said the suspect confessed to the crime but blamed his action on joblessness. Suspect also said he learned auxiliary nursing at a yet-to-be identified private hospital.
This is not the first time such a thing is happening. Three years ago, one Martin Ugwu, a Level 13 officer in the Ministry of Health, was arrested. It was discovered that Ugwu, who never qualified as a medical doctor, had been practising for over 10 years. There is no telling how many other quack “doctors” are “practicing” across the country. Healthcare is very delicate; it is not for nothing that medical doctors undergo some of the most rigorous training before they are certified. Joblessness is not enough excuse to endanger human lives. The culprit should have explored other areas that did not put innocent lives in danger. What he did is the height of wickedness.
We urge the authorities to ensure thorough investigation and all those found culpable should serve the maximum punishment. Furthermore, the Medical and Dental Council should wake up to its responsibilities and engage in proper monitoring and supervision of medical personnel and health centers, especially those in rural areas, where quack doctors mostly engage in the practice with little chance of detection. Employers should also carry out thorough checks. They should endeavour to refer to the Medical and Dental Council to clear any doctor before he/she is offered employment. And if members of the public are suspicious or not comfortable with the behaviour or actions of a medical doctor, they should not hesitate to report to the appropriate authourities.
In Nigeria currently, the health sector is battling with several issues ranging from inadequate personnel, poor funding, lack of drugs and necessary equipment among others. It cannot afford to add quackery to the list. Relevant authourities and stakeholders should work together to tackle this issue.
