The Rivers State Government has shutdown the Churchill Primary Health Centre in Port Harcourt.
The move came after the alleged disappearance of a three-week-old baby, who was brought in for immunization.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Agiriya Harry said the Health Centre was shut down because of the activities of hoodlums who claim to be sympathizers of the family of the missing baby.
Harry said the police were now investigating to try and unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged missing child.
“What we can tell you is that yes, a baby was missing and from our own investigations, we discovered that the said mother of the child was careless.
“It was wrong for her to have handed over her child to some one she does not know and then she comes and put the blame on the matron.
“We had to shutdown the hospital because when the thing happened instead of her to go and report the matter at the police station, she went and told her husband who we understand is a tout in Churchill.
“The husband then led other members of his group and unleashed mayhem in the hospital,” he said.
He confirmed that some members of staff at the facility were invited for questioning and had since been released.
He advised nursing mothers and guardians to keep an eye on their children and wards whenever they visit any Primary Health Care centre.
