The Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN), Kaduna State Chapter, has raised concern over the proliferation of unaccredited private Colleges and Schools of Health Technology operating in the state.
The State Chairman of ACHPN, Comrade Aliyu Abdulrasheed Umar, made the remark at a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday, revealing that while only 25 institutions are officially recognised, more than 60 others are functioning without accreditation from the relevant regulatory board.
Umar further warned that such illegal institutions, operating without approval from the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN), pose a grave threat to public health and professional standards.
He said, “As of today, we have only 25 recognised schools, while over 60 others are operating without approval from the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN). This poses a serious risk to public health.”
He said the unauthorised institutions, spread across various Local Government Areas, mislead unsuspecting students and produce unqualified personnel, thereby promoting quackery in the health sector.
According to the Chairman, the association has submitted a detailed list of such institutions to the Kaduna State Ministries of Health and Education, urging urgent action to close them down in collaboration with security agencies and local councils.
It also urged the state government to publish the names of duly accredited institutions and ensure that public health facilities only accept students from approved schools for clinical training.
Umar further appealed to parents and guardians to verify the accreditation status of any school before enrolling their children or wards, warning that many are unknowingly investing in unrecognised programmes.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to safeguarding professional standards in community health, adding that it will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and CHPRBN to ensure only qualified practitioners serve in Kaduna State.
He further called on the media to intensify awareness on the public on the dangers of attending unaccredited institutions and the importance of maintaining professional health standards
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