According to the official statement on the government's website, the closure of these facilities occurred during an operation conducted by the board aimed at addressing non-compliance with the code of conduct governing traditional medicine practice in the state.
The two traditional birth attendant facilities that were shut down are located at No. 58, Willoughby Street, Ebute-Metta, and 12, Ogunnaike Street, Agege, both areas within the state.
During the enforcement operation, Mrs. Adams Aisha, who led the inspectorate team of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, emphasized that the closure was necessary to safeguard public health and safety in the state. She mentioned that the inspectorate team collaborated with personnel from the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps to ensure a prompt and effective response to protect the well-being of the citizens.
Adams stated that the board's commitment is to shield the public from unscrupulous traditional medicine practitioners and to encourage the responsible use of traditional medicine for the benefit of all. Continuous crackdowns and ongoing initiatives are part of the Board's strategy to achieve this goal.
She noted, "The Board’s operation is rooted in its commitment to create a structured Traditional Medicine practice that is respected, standardized, documented, modernized, and protected."
Adams urged practitioners and the public to work together in upholding the best standards while prioritizing the well-being of patients seeking treatments.
In a related development, the Lagos government had announced on Sunday that it would impose sanctions on traditional medical practitioners operating in the state who fail to register their businesses with the Traditional Medicine Board.
Babatunde Adele, the Registrar of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, disclosed this information in a statement on January 21. The government has instructed all traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine practitioners to complete their registration by visiting the agency's head office on or before Friday, February 6, 2024.
“The order for registration was necessitated owing to the increasing and unbearable level of quackery in the field of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine,” Adele had said.
