The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has pledged to investigate the alleged disappearance of 13,350 diapers intended for antenatal care at a Primary Health Centre in Sambawa community, Kebbi. The ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu, announced this commitment during a one-day conference organized by the ICPC in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking on the theme “Engendering Corruption-Free Primary Health Care Delivery For All,” Dr. Adamu confirmed the receipt of a petition from the Sambawa community regarding the missing antenatal care items. Preliminary investigations by the ICPC revealed that 13,350 diapers were unaccounted for, while the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Agency’s investigation reported 3,466 missing diapers.
Two staff members from the Sambawa Primary Healthcare Centre have been implicated in the incident. The ICPC is determined to uncover the criminal conduct and hold the culprits accountable.
Dr. Adamu highlighted the growing involvement of communities and civil society organizations in combating corruption within the health sector. He emphasized the importance of ensuring corruption-free primary healthcare delivery across the country.
The conference, which aimed to garner public support in the fight against corruption, focused on improving service delivery and eliminating corrupt practices in the health sector. Dr. Adamu noted that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was chosen as the pilot location to develop a comprehensive template that could be replicated nationwide.
Participants at the conference included community healthcare stakeholders, who collaborated to enhance the effectiveness of primary healthcare services. The conference also featured the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to foster anti-corruption ideas and mobilize resources to address corruption in healthcare.
Minister of Health, Muhammed Ali Pate, also addressed the conference, acknowledging the multifaceted challenges, including corruption, faced by the nation’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system. He stressed that tackling corruption in the health sector requires a collective and systematic approach, involving multiple institutions.
Dr. Pate underscored the importance of addressing corruption to ensure a prosperous future for Nigeria, emphasizing that collective action is essential to overcoming the systemic challenges that hinder effective healthcare delivery.
