ACC addresses nurses in Bo
The Southern Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has on Thursday 15th March, 2012 held an exclusive customized meeting with nurses at the Bo Government Hospital. This meeting was organized based on recommendations made by key health personnel in a recent sensitization meeting held with them at the same venue.
Welcoming the ACC team on behalf of the Medical Superintendent, the Hospital Secretary who chaired the meeting expressed delight in meeting with the ACC team and assured them that the recommendations made at the end of this programme will be taken in good part to enhance the commitment and professionalism of nurses in their discharge of duties. He stressed that they were mandated by government to provide medical services to the people of the south and that they needed to do even more than was expected by Government. He therefore appealed and encouraged his colleagues to be transparent and accountable in the execution of their duties. The Hospital Secretary assured the ACC team of their fullest cooperation in the fight against corruption. He concluded by stating that the ACC will always stand for ethics, professionalism and integrity; and if these attributes were to be imbibed by nurses then they will always do their work dispassionately and shy away from corrupt practices.
Speaking on the purpose of the meeting, the ACC Public Education Officer, Mr. Wilfred Bangura intimated his audience that the meeting was one of the series of sensitization meetings normally conducted by the Commission for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Mr. Bangura also tried to allay the fears of the nurses and other hospital staff that the ACC has not received any complaints on corruption related activity targeting the Bo Government Hospital. He maintained that the Commission should not be perceived as a public enemy to public servants and will never embark on witch hunting but should be considered as a strategic partner to the Health Sector in the fight against corruption.
Making his presentation on ‘Ethics in Health Care Service Delivery’, the ACC Regional Manager – South, Mr. Mohamed Dumbuya, on behalf of the Commissioner expressed his delight to the nurses of the Bo Government Hospital administration for their huge turnout at the meeting. Mr. Dumbuya stated that, that particular action demonstrated the commitment of staff to supporting the Commission in the fight against corruption. He recommended change of attitude of some of the nurses towards work and the patients; Mr. Dumbuya said that their behavior should be exemplary to say the least. He stressed the need for nurses to adhere to the rights of patients as they were legally and morally bound to do so. He concluded by explaining the three –prong approach used by the Commission in the fight against corruption namely: public education, prevention and enforcement.
Highlighting the offences in the Anti Corruption Act of 2008, the Senior Intelligence Investigation and Prosecution officer South, Mr. Gibrilla Bangura said the Act has given the ACC more powers, and that the Commission has the mandate to investigate all forms of corruption, no matter the amount of money or individual involved in it. He disclosed that the punishment for any offence in the Anti-corruption Act 2008 is a fine of not less than thirty (30) million Leones or imprisonment for not less than three (3) years or both fine and prison term. He therefore encouraged all nurses present not to misappropriate public funds and involve in other forms of corruption.
In her contribution, Sister Amie Mattia, representing the Matron of the hospital cautioned all her colleagues to be law abiding and made it clear that the Commission was in the hospital to sensitize nurses on the dangers of corruption. She admonished her colleagues to take the ACC advice in good faith and work towards selflessly serving the community in the southern region; and to shy away from committing offences that will land them into the ACC dragnet.
Questions and answers and vote of thanks delivered by Nurse Princess Turay climaxed the program.
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