HEFAMAA SENSITISES IKOSI-ISHERI RESIDENTS ON HEALTH FACILITY STANDARDS (PHOTOS)

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By: Sefiu Ajape

The Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has held a sensitisation session at the Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Hall to enlighten stakeholders on its operations, programmes, and the importance of using only accredited health facilities.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is passionate about the health and well-being of all Lagos residents, which is why HEFAMAA was established to regulate and accredit health facilities across the state.

She urged residents to “patronise, recognise, and approve medical facilities, either a clinic, laboratories or a maternity home, which carries the agency’s logo with a QR code, placed where the public can access it.”

According to Dr. Idowu, “Report any facilities that do not have any approval, equipment or qualified staff to operate as a hospital. A dentist cannot do the job of an optician, nor can a laboratory technician take the job of a doctor. Just use your smartphone and scan the QR code, all the information about the health facility will be displayed on your phone.”

She explained that the agency still needs to “engage the general public on the activities of the agency by ensuring that only facilities that are registered are operating in Lagos,” adding that the session was aimed at showing stakeholders HEFAMAA’s logo, explaining its categorisation of facilities, and highlighting the services permitted for each category.

Dr. Idowu also called for feedback from stakeholders on how the agency could serve the people more effectively.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Mayoress Samiat Bada, the Council Leader, Hon. Ismaila Onikosi, expressed appreciation to HEFAMAA for organising the programme.

“You all know that the health and well-being of the various communities is my priority in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA. If you see something in your hospital facility that is not in tandem with HEFAMAA Law, report the case to the agency,” she said.

She encouraged attendees to listen attentively and share the information with other stakeholders, stressing that this would help combat quack health facilities in the LCDA and across Lagos State.

The Director of Monitoring and Inspection, Dr. Daniel Olayinka, explained the importance of registering health facilities and the role of QR codes in verifying accreditation.

He noted that HEFAMAA, established under the Health Sector Reform Law (HSRL 2006), is mandated to improve healthcare service delivery by setting minimum operational standards, monitoring compliance, licensing facilities, and enforcing the law where necessary.

He urged the public to use only government-accredited facilities displaying the HEFAMAA logo and to report unsafe, unclean, or unaccredited facilities using substandard equipment.