By Prince J. Musa in Kenema
As part of ensuring transparency and accountability in the health sector, the Management of Government Hospital Kenema in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has on 19 August 2021 officially opened the citizen’s service charter to the public at the hospital.
In his statement at the commissioning ceremony, the hospital’s Medical Superintendent, Dr. Ibrahim Kapuwa said the management of the hospital through its continuous engagement with the ACC, decided to sanitize the health system in the facility thereby making available the health services to the public.
He said over the years health workers have been accused of exploiting patients, keeping many away from the hospital even when they need the services. However, he said the charter is to mitigate those challenges. ‘’This will caution our health workers to be aware that the public is monitoring their activities in doing the job expected of them,’’ he said.
Dr. Kapuwa believed the charter will enable patients and the public to access the health services being provided in the hospital.
He thanked the ACC for providing the guiding tools on how to develop the service charter and warned the nurses and other health workers to go by the correct procedures stated in the service charter as anyone that goes contrary to the stated regulations on the charter will have themselves to blame.
He said the hospital was challenged with electricity and therefore recommended for a permanent transformer for the place as done elsewhere.
The Resident Minister East Andrew Ansu Fatorma, said the service charter is an important aspect which every responsible institution should practice as it gives confidence to the public about the services being provided.
He said, the issue of transparency and accountability will enable the citizens to entrust their safety especially when it has to do with the health of the people.
“Any over charges for services in the hospital will now be a corrupt act, ACC will have to probe into it, and nurses are warned,’’ he said.
Fatorma said stakeholders will be visiting the hospital to monitor the situation especially at night time. “This service charter will cover the cleaners working in this hospital and any abnormality will be brought to book and no excuse at all’’, he warned.
He urged the management of the hospital not to compromise anything and assured of his support , especially in the area of making sure that the best was done to improve on the health status of the hospital.
The Chairman of Kenema District Council , Mohamed Sesay thanked the medical superintendent and team for the steps taken and urged for greater public education on the service charter through especially the electronic media to help drum home the information to rural communities.
“The doctors should ensure uniformity in terms of consultation cost among districts so there will be no doubt in the service delivery,’’ he said.
On behalf of the ACC, the Public Education Officer in Kenema Jeneba Kemoh said the service charter is significant in all Ministries Departments and Agencies because during the “Pay No Bribe” campaign by ACC targeting the hospital, schools, judiciary, EDSA, police and local court, people were complaining of paying bribe for services from those institutions.
‘’ACC has several allegations from the public against the Kenema government hospital for service delivery”, she stated and called for a stop to corrupt acts.
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