By: Problyn J. Alpha
In a significant breakthrough, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Regional Office in Kono has uncovered at least thirteen cartons of stolen Free Health Care drugs, which were secretly stored in one of the male toilets at the Koidu Government Hospital. The discovery followed a tip-off from a man who had visited his sick relative at the hospital.
Upon receiving the intelligence, the ACC’s regional investigation unit swiftly launched an operation at the hospital. This led to the discovery of the thirteen cartons of Free Health Care drugs hidden in an inappropriate location, unfit for storing such essential and life-saving medical supplies.
Two staff members responsible for the drug storage at the Koidu Government Hospital have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently in police custody, assisting with ongoing investigations.
The ACC has reaffirmed its commitment to rigorously monitoring the management, accountability, and distribution of Free Health Care drugs, which are intended for vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five.
In response to widespread rumors that the management of the Koidu Government Hospital had requested that the matter be handed over to the hospital’s internal management for investigation, Joseph Kamara, the Senior Secretary of Koidu Government Hospital, refuted the claims. In a mobile phone interview, Kamara described the rumors as false and baseless. He emphasized, “We are medical practitioners and are only concerned with medicines and the patients who come to the hospital for treatment. As for investigations, we respect the laws of the country, and whatever is of interest to the ACC and the Sierra Leone Police, the hospital management has no involvement.”
