The Niger Ministry of Health on Wednesday said that it sealed 26 private hospitals for allegedly operating illegally and other unprofessional conducts.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ibrahim Sule, said this when he briefed newsmen on the performance of the ministry in 2013 and it projects for 2014.
He said 10 of the clinics were close down permanently for employing quack medical personnel, while 16 others being investigated were temporarily close down.
Sule said the ministry pharmaceutical department in collaboration with National Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also close 25 patient medicine shops for alleged sell of fake and counterfeit drugs.
He also said that the prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS had dropped drastically in Niger from 4.0 per cent in 2012 to 1.2 per cent in 2013.
The commissioner attributed this development to the proactive measures put in place by the ministry to provide medical services to people living with HIV and AIDS.
He said 304,822 people underwent voluntary HIV and AIDS screening with 17,919 of them testing positive.
He said 11,909 out of the 17,919 of those that tested positive were presently receiving free treatment.
Sule said the government would construct two General Hospitals in Lemu and Agwara, headquarters of Gbako and Agwara Local Government Areas.
He said that there were also plans to convert Kutigi Rural Hospital to a General Hospital. (NAN
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