The Kano State Ministry of Health has shut down no fewer than 25 “illegal” Private Health Training Institutions, PHTIs, in the state.
The ministry, in a statement by its spokesperson, Hadiza Mustapha-Namadi, said the action followed the proliferation of the PHTIs in the state without recourse to the extant regulations governing the operation of such schools.
According to the ministry, some of those un-recognized institutions lack definite sites and offer dubious programs against the established course curricula.
Mrs Namadi added that most of these illegal health outfits engage in extorting exorbitant fees on students and their parents, describing the trend as detrimental to the people, educational development and efficiency of the entire health system in the state.
The statement said: “Kano state Ministry of Health has noticed with serious concern, the incessant proliferation of illegal Private Heath Training Institutions (PHTIs) in the State without recourse to extant regulations governing the establishment and operation of such schools as specified by regulatory bodies and other relevant authorities.
“It is of serious dismay to realize that some of those un-recognized institutions lack definite sites and offer dubious programmes against the established course curricula, while also extorting exorbitant fees on students and their parents.
“Suffice to indicate, this ugly trend is at the detriment of the people, educational development and efficiency of the entire health system.
“Consequently, the general public are hereby informed of the instant shut-down of all illegal Health Training Institutions (HTIs) in the State, pending the outcome of necessary investigations,” said the statement.
The ministry, therefore, urged the general public to patronize only the dully registered institutions and accredited courses, warning that subscription to un-recognized schools is tantamount to self-subjection to security risks, doom academic and career prospects, as well as financial deceptions.
“The Ministry will cooperate with all stakeholder agencies to ensure regular monitoring and inspection of the Health Training Institutions (HTIs) across the state for sanity and safety,” said the statement.
