The Enugu State Ministry of Health has apprehended a man posing as a medical doctor and sealed an unlicensed hospital operating in Obollo-Etiti, Udenu Local Government Area.
In a statement released on Sunday by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Ugodu Avemaria, it was revealed that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. George Ugwu, led the enforcement operation.
The facility, identified as St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in the Ada-Ulo Obollo-Etiti community, was found to be operating under unsafe and unhygienic conditions.
The suspect, Kenneth Mamah, allegedly ran the hospital without any form of medical qualification or official licence from the state authorities.
Investigations showed that he routinely performed surgical operations and other medical procedures in his consulting room, putting patients’ lives at risk.
“The self-acclaimed doctor had no licence, no professional training, and no authorisation from the ministry. Yet he continued to carry out surgeries in an environment completely unfit for medical care,” Avemaria stated.
Residents were said to be stunned upon learning that Mamah had been impersonating a qualified doctor for years.
The Director of Medical Services, Dr. Amaechi Mgbodile, who was part of the enforcement team, explained that the closure of the facility aligns with the state government’s ongoing campaign against medical quackery and its commitment to ensuring patient safety across health facilities.
“No hospital is permitted to perform surgeries without proper registration, trained personnel, sterile instruments, and an approved operating theatre,” Mgbodile said.
The ministry confirmed that the suspect has been handed over to security agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution, in accordance with Governor Peter Mbah’s zero-tolerance policy on unlicensed medical practice.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area, Aka Eze Aka, pledged to intensify surveillance across the area to identify and shut down other illegal medical operators, particularly in rural communities.
