As a way of preventing incidences corruption in the health sector, the NorthWest Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday 6th September conducted a three day overt  operation from Wednesday 6th to 8th September 2023 at the Port Loko Government Hospital.

(PLGH).

The overt operation is part of the commission's preventive drive to addressing corruption prevalence and other forms of malfeasance that are adversely affecting the operational efficiency of the hospital. The exercise is predicated on the numerous concerns and complaints from the public relating to extortion and other forms of corruption in the hospital. 

In his brief welcome to staff of the ACC, the Medical Superintendent of the PLGH Dr Yusuf Tejan thanked the team for their intervention and commitment to reversing the negatives in the overall operations of the hospital. He lauded the preventive approach of the fight particularly in addressing systems and procedural challenges faced in the management of the facility. In her response, Manager Kamara informed him that the ACC was primarily to observe operations, procedures, practices and look into any other activity that amount to corruption.

Prior to the operation, the Regional Manager of the ACC in the Northwest region said corruption in the sector threatens healthcare access, fairness and outcomes adding, that where corruption prevails there is difficulty in the implementation of state policies on effective healthcare delivery. Owing to the growing public concerns on the forms and patterns of corruption in the facility, the Regional Head pinpointed the need to take action against it without delay as the effects of corruption is enormous and the burden falls disproportionately on the poor, with children, women and rural residents and other vulnerable groups bearing the burden most.

The Head of the operation who also doubles as the Senior Investigation Officer Bernard Dixon also expressed similar sentiments to addressing and mitigating the inadequacies that have adversely affected the efficiency of the hospital. He superintended the operation on every area including but not limited to outpatients department, laboratory services, stores management, Wards inspection, Drugs management, Finance and revenue streams, Free Healthcare, Triage, nutrition and diet management, among others.

© ACC NORTHWEST OFFICE