By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

Lagos State Government has debunked insinuations that its Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, was out to victimise or witch hunt medical practitioners in the State.

Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina, who disclosed this, said the Agency was set up to ensure improvement in the quality of healthcare delivery services in Lagos State.

Adesina who spoke during the 2nd HEFAMAA grassroots meeting in Lagos, explained that “HEFAMAA provides correctional services which is why the agency doesn’t close up health facilities without several prior notice. Defaulters would have been warned to put things in place, and once correction is made, no sanctions are applied”.

At the meeting, attended by major healthcare practitioners and stakeholders in the public healthcare sector, Adesina observed that medical related crime can only be determined by medical practitioners and regulatory bodies before the alleged suspect is handed over to the police.

“Law enforcement agents like Police are to take crimes related to medical regulatory agencies such as HEFAMAA, and we determine those that should be sanctioned by their respective professional bodies. It is not for the Police to go arresting owners of health facilities.

“To reach out to Lagosians, we are doing this sensitization in every district in the state, using mouth to mouth sensitization from community heads, educationist, and religious leaders. We are involving the young ones because we know that once they have knowledge they can exercise their right and influence their community”.

Executive Secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr. Jimmy Asuni said apart from monitoring of healthcare facilities, the Agency educates people about services in healthcare facilities.

“Even when healthcare facilities have been registered, we still go for random monitoring  to ensure that they are compliant with the acceptable standards,” he added.