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The Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency has called on residents to avoid using unlicensed medical facilities and practitioners within the state.

The Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr Abiola Idowu, issued the caution on Friday during a awareness campaign conducted at the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Secretariat, aimed at informing the community about the agency’s operations.

Idowu, represented by the Deputy Director of the HEFAMAA Inspection and Monitoring Unit, Oladuni Omitola, emphasized that the government had recognized shortcomings in healthcare delivery, prompting the creation of HEFAMAA to address these issues.

“Health is wealth; we want you to understand that your health should be a top priority. We need to make sure that we go to government-approved healthcare centers. The Lagos State Government cares for its people, which is why we are advising that only HEFAMAA-approved medical facilities should be used,” she added.

The Chief Secretary stated that, as part of efforts to guarantee adherence and proper oversight, the organization had implemented a barcode that citizens can utilize each time they visit any medical center to check its registered status.

As she mentioned, the barcode could also serve as a tool for submitting feedback and suggestions regarding any facility.

She mentioned that since the agency began functioning in 2006, at least 4,000 healthcare facilities had been included in its database.

Idowu also urged locals to sign up for the government’s health insurance program to ensure full access to healthcare services.

In his comments, AbdulAzeez Jimoh, the HEFAMAA Director of Administration and Human Resources, emphasized that the agency has established penalties for facilities that do not adhere to proper procedures.

“Individuals who have been certified and possess our emblem are now official representatives of the Lagos State Government. When you arrive at any facility and notice that it is not following standard procedures, you can scan the QR code, which will guide you on how to file a report about that facility. Similarly, if they perform well, you can also inform us,” Jimoh said.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).