The Public Education Unit of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Northern Region Office, on Wednesday 6th March 2019 engaged staff and management of the Government Regional Hospital in Makeni.
Speaking at the Hospital’s Conference Hall at Makama, ACC Regional Manager North, Abu Bakarr Kamara, expressed delight at the fair representation of staff from the various units within the hospital. Mr. Kamara informed his audience that the engagement was part of the Commission’s intervention to address system weaknesses in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The ACC Northern Region Manager said that acts of corruption have affected efficient service delivery in public institutions in the country, adding that corruption flourishes in an environment of weak systems. He said that was why the Commission had established Integrity Management Committees (IMCs) in MDAs to enable public sector institutions handle system weaknesses internally.
He highlighted some of the areas in the health sector that the Pay No Bribe campaign reports had persistently singled out as areas of concern for health authorities. He therefore called on the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital to deduce from the reports and develop strategies to combat petty corruption and bribery in his institution.
The ACC Public Education Officer, Abdulai Saccoh, said the meeting was a form of building partnership with the Hospital in a bid to continue to remind staff of their responsibility to the nation. Mr. Saccoh encouraged the hospital management to judiciously utilize the subventions received from Government and be transparent and accountable in the handling of revenue generated at the hospital, as well as proper management of the hospital’s assets.
Saccoh informed his audience that citizens can report acts of corruption through the mobile toll free lines 077985985/077986986 or PNB line 515 on all networks.
Earlier, ACC’s Public Education Officer, Jeneba Kemoh, said it is part of the Commission’s mandate to educate the public on the dangers of corruption and how it can be collectively defeated; and also to solicit citizens’ support in the fight. She noted that graft is a menace that can lead to deprivation of social services.
The Medical Superintendent, Dr Mohamed Sheku, commended the Commission for its strides to improve service delivery in public sector institutions across the country. He appealed to his colleagues to take ACC messages seriously and support the fight against corruption for the good of the country.
A very interactive session and the handing over of information, education and communication materials to the Hospital Management formed the high point of the engagement.
ACC Engages Government Regional Hospital
