The Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged to address the alleged disappearance of 13,350 diapers intended for antenatal care at a primary health centre in the Sambawa community of Kebbi.
The commission said it would investigate criminal conduct and bring those responsible to justice.
ICPC President Musa Adamu made the remarks at a one-day conference organised by the ICPC in Abuja on Thursday.
Musa Aliyu
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is “Creating Corruption-Free Primary Healthcare Delivery for All.”
“Recently, the Sambawa community in Kebbi State sent us a request regarding missing antenatal care items for pregnant women and newborn babies donated to a healthcare facility.
“Our preliminary investigation indicated that the missing diapers allocated to Sambawa Primary Health Care Centre is 13,350 pieces while the Kebbi State Primary Health Care Agency investigation puts it at 3,466.”
He said that although two staff members of the Sambawa Primary Health Care Centre, a man and a woman, were charged over the missing items, the commission was intent on unravelling the criminal conduct and bringing the culprits to justice.
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She added that communities and civil society organisations were increasingly interested in tackling corruption in the health sector.
The president said the commission was implementing measures to ensure corruption-free delivery of primary healthcare in the country.
He said the commission organized the conference as part of efforts to garner and encourage public support in the fight against corruption in the nation.
According to him, the conference is specifically organised to stimulate debates that will help improve service delivery without leaving room for corrupt tendencies in the health sector.
“This has become necessary considering the critical nature of the sector and its role in ensuring a healthy society at all levels.
“The choice by the Commission of Primary Health Care in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a pilot for the conversation at the national level aims to create a comprehensive model that can be replicated in the six geopolitical zones of the federation.
“Participants were carefully selected from community health care stakeholders to take a holistic and collaborative approach to improving the effectiveness of primary health care service delivery,” he said.
According to him, the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to be signed at the conference will provide opportunities for exchange of ideas against corruption and leverage available resources to address issues that prevent people from enjoying a corruption-free healthcare system in Nigeria.
Health Minister Muhammed Pate said the country's primary health centres face multifaceted challenges, including corruption, which must be urgently addressed.
He added that corruption in the health sector cannot be isolated from other sectors.
Mr Pate said Nigeria had a prosperous future, but prosperity would only come if citizens did the right thing collectively.
“So when we look at the problem of corruption in Nigeria, which is a long-standing problem, it is virtually everywhere, but how do you address it?
“It is a huge, systemic challenge. It is also a multi-institutional challenge. This conversation will determine what to do about it.”
“The mortality rate is the lowest when we look at Nigeria’s health service utilization and output on the continent, compared to many other countries,” Mr. Pate said.
According to him, it is necessary to strengthen regulatory bodies so that they do not become predators.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, said primary health care was the foundation of any nation's health system.
“It is the first point of contact for individuals, families and communities, playing a fundamental role in preventing disease, promoting health and ensuring the well-being of our citizens.
“However, the integrity and effectiveness of this vital sector can be seriously undermined by corruption.
“Corruption in the delivery of primary health care not only diverts essential resources but also erodes trust in public institutions, compromises the quality of care and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in our society.
“Therefore, addressing this issue is not only a necessity but a moral imperative,” he said.
He said the union remains steadfast in the fight against corruption across the country.
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Present at the conference were representatives of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Others include the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Nurses and Midwives Association of Nigeria.
(YAYA)