Share!
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has vowed to investigate the disappearance of 13,350 diapers meant for antenatal care at a Primary Health Centre in Sambawa community, Kebbi State.
The Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu, announced this during a one-day conference organized by the ICPC in Abuja on Thursday, themed “Engendering Corruption-Free Primary Health Care Delivery For All.”
“Recently, the Sambawa community in Kebbi State sent a petition to us 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 Healthcare Centre are 13,350 pieces, while the investigation by Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Agency puts it at 3,466,” Adamu said.
Adamu revealed that two staff members of the Sambawa Primary Healthcare Centre, a male and a female, were implicated in the disappearance. The ICPC aims to unravel the criminal conduct and bring the culprits to justice.
He emphasized the increasing involvement of communities and civil society organizations in tackling corruption in the health sector. The ICPC is implementing measures to ensure corruption-free primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
The conference was organized to stimulate discussions on improving service delivery and eliminating corrupt tendencies in the health sector. The event also featured the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to foster public support and address corruption in primary healthcare.
The Minister of Health, Muhammed Ali Pate, highlighted the multifaceted challenges facing the nation’s Primary Health Care (PHCs), including corruption, which he said must be urgently addressed. Pate stressed the need for collective action and the strengthening of regulatory bodies to combat corruption.
Dr. Chris Isiguzo, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), also spoke at the conference, emphasizing the critical role of primary healthcare in preventing diseases and promoting health. He warned that corruption in this sector undermines the quality of care and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society.
Representatives from various health organizations and international bodies attended the conference, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), United Nations Development Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Health Organization (WHO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM
