By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Office of the Inspector General of the Global Fund (OIG) has released a draft report that reviewed grants given to Sierra Leone to address HIV/AID, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
The report published on the 6th December, speaks of a partial overall improvement in grant management, but also identified institutional challenges with both fiduciary and programmatic management. It quoted a social media publication which referenced a 2020 report that indicated fraudulent use of funds by some staff members of the Integrated Health Project Administration Unit (IHPAU) of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) between January and April 2020 and August 2020.
The report pointed out that, whilst MoHS was in the process of planning for malaria and Health Management Information System trainings in several districts in the country, there were individuals who engaged in improper practices. It was reported that the action of catering suppliers resulted in non-compliant usage of LE 3.44 billion (three billion, forty four old Leones) equivalent to $ 415.148 (four hundred and fifteen thousand, one hundred and forty eight dollars) approximately 0.4% of the grant total.
However, the draft report also indicated that 99.6% of the funds were otherwise used effectively towards their approved health programmes.
The irregularities in the funds usage was said to have occurred prior to the tenure of the current Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby who was sworn in on February 10th 2021. He was said to have instituted a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and has led aggressive implementation measures to properly investigate this incident and prevent future recurrence.
In order to stop a reoccurrence of such irregularities in the ministry’s programmes, Minister Demby filed a formal request to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to thoroughly investigate the improper use of funds in 2020. He also said he will ensure those involved are identified and brought to justice.
He also abolished the use of catering for affiliated events with training participants receiving allowances for lunch and refreshments. The move is expected to remove the opportunity and reduce risk for collusive schemes in remote locations where proper receipts and effective oversight are challenging.
He ensured the ministry institutes a policy wherein daily subsistence and transportation allowances are paid through mobile money thereby ensuring only registered participants who attended trainings or workshops are eligible for payment and easy to contact in the case where a follow is required.
Vehicles used by the ministry of health are now equipped with GPS for proper tracking.
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