FG Seeks WHO Support to Curb Corruption in Health Sector
The federal government on Monday sought
the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in curbing corruption
in Nigeria’s health sector following several indictments by foreign
donors of diversion of funds particularly in the Federal Ministry of
Health.
Consequently, the ministry has initiated
plans to set up Efficiency Management Unit (EMU) to oversee the proper
utilization of funds in the ministry.
This is in an effort to curb in the ministry.
In recent times, the health ministry and
some of its agencies and departments have been fingered by the Global
Fund to have been involved in alleged diversion of funds meant for the
fight against HIV/AIDS and malaria.
The magnitude of the alleged corruption
and the threat by the Global Fund to withdraw its funding and support to
Nigeria compelled President Muhammadu Buhari to order the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the alleged stealing of
Global Fund grants which Nigeria received between 2010 and 2014.
According to the Global Fund, in late
2014, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated an
investigation into the expenditures of the Nigerian Government’s
Department of Health Planning, Research & Statistics (DPRS), a
sub-recipient of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), the
principal recipient of HIV/AIDS grants.
Though,ministry and NACA officials have
been questioned by the anti-graft agency, EFCC, the outcome of the
investigations is yet to be tendered to President Buhari.
According to the report: “The OIG
investigation confirmed the Local Fund Agent’s initial findings and
found extensive evidence of systematic embezzlement of program funds,
fraudulent practices and collusion by DPRS staff and consultants
assigned to the Global Fund-financed program. The OIG found some form of
irregularity or fraud in most vouchers reviewed (from 2010 to 2014).
Seven of the ten staff and three consultants assigned to the program
were involved or linked to the misappropriation of funds.”
But in an epoch meeting with the World
Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso
Moeti, who is in Nigeria for a three day official visit, Minister of
Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole requested for the support of the world
health body in order to tame the monster of corruption within the
ministry and the overall health sector.
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