Dental council, SSS seal eye clinic, arrest operator

SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

Arugaya and The clinic

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and operatives of the State Security Service on Tuesday sealed Sahal Eye Specialist Clinic and arrested its operator, Dr. Husseini Arugaya, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Arugaya, who operated the eye clinic on Afaha Ube Street, Uyo, was said to have incurred the wrath of the council following a complaint by a former patient, Mr. Ndarake Akpe, who allegedly became blind after receiving treatment from the hospital.

Head of Department, Inspectorate, MDCN, Dr. Okwuokenye Henry, said a person, who wished to remain anonymous called him on the telephone that a patient became blind after receiving treatment from the clinic.

He said, “I asked him to get the complainant to put the matter in writing. The victim later sent a protest letter to our office, saying that he went to the clinic for treatment, but instead, he became blind.

“He said Arugaya gave him very strange conditions after the visit to the clinic like – not to bend down for five days, don’t look down for 28 days, don’t sleep in the afternoon for one month, and don’t lie on your left or right.

“We checked our database but we did not see his name as one of the doctors registered to practise in Nigeria.

“I contacted the state ministry of health. The Director of Medical Services, Dr. Comfort Archibong, said the record showed that the clinic was closed down in 2009 because it was not registered with the ministry as a health facility in the state.

 “We also found out that he has branches in Port Harcourt, Calabar and Eket apart from this one.

 “We have been around for almost five days trying to pin him down to this place, but this morning, with the help of SSS, we arrested him.”

Archibong, said the clinic had been sealed up in 2009 with the signpost removed by the ministry.

Archibong, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Health, Mr. Ememabasi Bassey, said from what she gathered from the victim, he located the place through the advertisements the clinic placed on a local radio station.

She urged the media houses in the state to pass health advertisements through the state ministry of health for vetting.

However, Arugaya, who admitted to treating the patient, said Akpe’s blindness was caused by his inability to follow instructions.

He added that his arrest and the sealing of his business premises were the handiwork of his enemies.

Akpe’s letter, dated April 11, 2013 and sighted by PUNCH Metro had alleged that Arugaya willfully destroyed his right eye.

He said, “I was attended to by Arugaya on July 26, 2011, and after that I have not seen with my right eye again. Further checks in India showed that Arugaya, who operated on my eye, had completely destroyed it.”