Anambra Assembly Calls for CCTV Surveillance in Public Hospitals
The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the state executive to procure and install 24-hour remote surveillance Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in all public health facilities across the state.
Lawmakers said the initiative is aimed at enhancing accountability, improving patient safety, and restoring public confidence in government health institutions.
The resolution followed a motion moved during plenary by Hon. Chidiebere Ibemeka, representing Njikoka 1 Constituency.
Members of the Assembly argued that continuous monitoring of medical facilities would help curb incidents of negligence, promote professional conduct among healthcare workers, and provide verifiable evidence in cases of complaints or disputes.
Under the proposed arrangement, the CCTV systems will operate round the clock, with footage accessible to designated oversight bodies such as the state Ministry of Health and independent complaint desks. These external monitors, lawmakers explained, will ensure that surveillance data is used for quality assurance and not manipulated by hospital personnel.
Proponents of the initiative stressed that remote surveillance has become a global best practice in healthcare governance.
They noted that transparent monitoring helps protect diligent medical staff from false allegations while exposing genuine lapses that require corrective action.
Supporters also believe that the measure could encourage quicker emergency responses and higher standards of service delivery in public hospitals.
The resolution now awaits action by the state executive, which is expected to consider procurement plans and technical modalities for installation.
If implemented, the CCTV rollout would form part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare oversight and patient safety in Anambra State.
Health stakeholders and civil society groups have welcomed discussions on improved transparency but called for safeguards to protect patient privacy and data security.
Government officials are yet to provide a detailed timeline for implementation.
