HEFAMAA Creates Health Awareness in Ikosi-Isheri
The Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) recently held a sensitisation session at the Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Hall to enlighten stakeholders about its activities and programmes.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, emphasised that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is passionate about the health and well-being of Lagos residents, which informed the establishment of HEFAMAA to ensure quality healthcare delivery across the state.
She urged residents to patronise only approved health facilities—clinics, laboratories, or maternity homes—that display the agency’s logo with a QR code, placed in visible areas for easy public verification.
According to her:
“Report any facilities that do not have approval, proper equipment, or qualified staff to operate as hospitals. A dentist cannot do the job of an optician, nor can a laboratory technician take the job of a doctor. Just use your smartphone to scan the QR code; all information about the health facility will be displayed on your phone.”
Dr. Idowu noted that public engagement is still necessary to ensure that only registered facilities operate in Lagos. She explained that HEFAMAA categorises health facilities to define the type of services each one is authorised to provide.
She also called for feedback from stakeholders on how best the agency can effectively serve the people.
In her remarks, the Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Mrs. Mayoree Simbiat Bada, represented by the Council Leader, Hon. Ismaila Onikosi, thanked HEFAMAA for organising the sensitisation programme.
“You all know that the health and well-being of our communities is my priority in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA. If you see something in any health facility that violates HEFAMAA regulations, report it to the agency,” she said.
She urged participants to share the information received with others to help combat quack health facilities across Lagos State.
The Director of Monitoring and Inspection, Dr. Daniel Olayinka, highlighted the importance of registering health facilities and using QR codes. He explained that HEFAMAA was established under the Health Sector Reform Law (HSRL 2006) to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery in Lagos.
He added that to operate a health facility in the state, operators must meet the agency’s minimum standards, register with HEFAMAA, and comply with inspection requirements. The agency indexes, monitors, inspects, and licenses both public and private facilities, evaluates poor-performing centres, and enforces compliance.
Dr. Olayinka urged residents to patronise only government-accredited facilities and to report unqualified personnel operating in unsafe environments with substandard equipment.
For more information, the public can call 09015637023, 09057273196 or email hefamamail@gmail.com / hefamamail@lagosstate.gov.ng.
The sensitisation programme ended with a question-and-answer session to capture stakeholders’ feedback.
