The Nigerian Medical Association in Rivers State reported that they have apprehended a man named Echi Michael, who has been pretending to be a medical doctor in the state for more than two years.
The NMA, in a statement signed by the State Secretary, Dr Hope Avundaa, in Port Harcourt on Saturday, stated that Michael, a graduate of Banking and Finance from the Cross River State University of Technology, was caught by its anti-quackery committee.
Avundaa stated that the suspect deceptively applied for the NMA Rivers State Identity Card using false documents, including a fake MBBS Certificate from the University of Port Harcourt in 2017, and a fake MDCN full registration certificate in 2023 which were discovered to be forged.
He added that Michael was apprehended on Friday after a period of active surveillance when he appeared for an interview for the post of Medical Officer at Port Harcourt Military Hospital, a place he has presented himself as a staff member during his application for the NMA ID Card.
The statement mentioned, “The Anti-quackery Committee led by the Chairman NMA, Rivers State, Dr. Ebbi Robinson: Secretary, Dr. Hope Avundaa and VC2 Dr. Edmund Anufuro effected the arrest and detention of Mr. Echi Igbo Michael, a graduate of Banking and Finance (CRUTECH) who has been parading himself and practising for over two years in Rivers State as a medical doctor.
“Tip-off of his crime came to light after he fraudulently applied for NMA Rivers State ID Card with falsified documents which include a fake MBBS Certificate from University of Port Harcourt (2017), a fake MDCN full Registration Certificate (2023) which were found to be falsified.
“Mr. Echi Michael was apprehended today after a period of active surveillance when he appeared for an interview for the post of Medical Officer at Port Harcourt Military Hospital, a place he has paraded himself as a staff during his application for NMA ID Card.”
He added that Michael would be prosecuted, stating, “The culprit has been arrested for prosecution. We thank the authorities of the military hospital for their cooperation.”
Stakeholders in the medical profession have expressed concern about the activities of impostors pretending to be professionals in the health sector.
In February, some stakeholders pointed to the training of auxiliary nurses by private doctors as a major factor fueling unqualified practice in the country’s health sector.
They, however, stated that the problem of quackery cannot be contained if such practice is not monitored while urging the government at all levels to take the necessary actions to end the problem.
