Alimamy Lahai Kamara said intending community health officers and health assistants need to get firm understanding of corruption offences such as Offering, Soliciting and Accepting an Advantage, Abuse of Office, Abuse of Position, and Misappropriation of Public Funds. Students need to know corruption temptations they may be exposed to while serving as practitioners in the field.
He said malpractices happening in universities such as illegal admission and promotion, falsification of results, payment for collection of results, cheating during exams, purchase of examination scripts, bribes for grades, sex for grades, and extra charges continue to deteriorate standards in education. This affects social performance, thus resulting in poor service delivery.
He said as the country is building its medical infrastructure, reconstructing referral hospitals, establishing peripheral units, instituting policies regulating conduct of personnel, it cannot afford to employ incompetent officers who cannot match up to producing results. He encouraged the CHO and CHA students to work hard, and to support the ACC in eradicating corruption in the school system.
Steven Ngaujah, CHO class Rep. told the ACC team that their job is a life-saving one and full of sacrifices. He said to be assigned to remote communities performing clinical services and preventing diseases is an act of patriotism. Ngaujah said they as students are on board the campaign against corruption, and the PNB has provided them an opportunity to fight against malpractices unidentified. He said they have also learnt about gift, and its tendency to influence decisions of lecturers.
Public Education Officer, Joseph Hazeley, said the Commission is targeting students to ensure they play a part in tackling graft. Students constitute a vital component in society who can help address instances of bribery and malpractices in education. Students have responsibility to report malpractices and can dial the PNB free line 515, or access the ACC website on www.pnb.gov.sl to stop bribery and petty corruption in universities. These platforms guarantee anonymity, and they are in line with the mandate of the Commission to take all steps necessary to prevent, eradicate, and suppress corruption.
