The Kenema Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on 17th March 2026, presented a comprehensive thematic review report on the management of Free Health Care (FHC) drugs to the leadership of the Kenema Government Hospital.
The review, conducted as part of the Commission’s corruption prevention mandate, was aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the handling and distribution of FHC drugs. The exercise focused on critical service delivery points within the hospital, including medical stores, pharmacies, and various wards receiving and dispensing the drugs.
The report identified several systemic gaps affecting the effective management and distribution of these essential medicines, with implications for service delivery and public trust in the Free Health Care programme.
Explaining the purpose of the engagement, ACC Prevention Officer, Abiebatu Abu-Mattia, noted that the Commission’s Prevention Department undertook the thematic review to assess vulnerabilities within the FHC drug management system.
“This engagement is part of ACC’s proactive approach to addressing corruption risks before they escalate,” Abu-Mattia stated. “Following the conduct of this thematic review, it is important that we formally present our findings and recommendations to the hospital leadership and key stakeholders.’’
She added: ‘’We are encouraged by the level of cooperation received from the hospital management team including the Medical Superintendent, Hospital Secretary, Matron, and Pharmacist—which greatly facilitated the success of this exercise.”
Presenting the report, the ACC Regional Director, Mrs. Hawanatu O. Kamara, emphasized the significance of the findings and the need for immediate corrective actions.
“The issues identified in this report point to systemic weaknesses that, if left unaddressed, could undermine the objectives of the Free Health Care programme,” the Regional Director stated, adding, “our recommendations are practical and achievable. They are designed to strengthen internal controls, improve accountability mechanisms, and ensure that these life-saving drugs reach the intended beneficiaries. As a Commission, we remain committed to supporting institutions build robust systems that deter corruption.”
Representatives from the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone commended the ACC for what they described as a timely and impactful intervention, linking the findings to the broader issue of citizens’ rights.
“Access to essential medicines is a fundamental human right,” a representative noted. “Any gap in the management of FHC drugs directly affects vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. We therefore applaud the ACC for this initiative and urge the hospital management to treat the recommendations with utmost urgency.”
Similarly, Civil Society representatives present at the engagement lauded the Commission’s continued efforts in promoting accountability in public institutions.
In response, the Medical Superintendent of Kenema Government Hospital Dr Abdul Tejan Jalloh welcomed the report and expressed appreciation to the ACC and stakeholders for their constructive engagement.
“We appreciate the ACC for highlighting areas that require improvement,” the Medical Superintendent stated, “and as a hospital, we are committed to delivering quality healthcare services, and this includes ensuring proper management of Free Health Care drugs. We will ensure that the recommendations in this report are carefully reviewed and implemented to strengthen our systems.”
The engagement marked another significant step in the ACC’s ongoing efforts to safeguard public resources and ensure that critical government interventions achieve intended impact.
