Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation has today, Monday 12 December issued a response to the Office of the Inspector General of The Global Fund (OIG) Draft Audit Report.

On the 6th of December 2022, The Office of the Inspector General of The Global Fund (OIG) released a draft audit report that reviewed grants given to Sierra Leone to address three major diseases – HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis.

This report indicated fraudulent use of funds by some staff members of the Integrated Health Project Administration Unit (IHPAU) of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation between January and April 2020 and August 2020. In the process of planning for malaria and Health Management Information System trainings in several districts in the country, individuals engaged in improper practices with catering suppliers that resulted in non-compliant usage of SLE 3.44 billion (Old Leones) or US $415,148, approximately 0.4% of the grant total. The draft report also indicated that 99.6% of the funds were otherwise used effectively towards their approved health programs.

In a press statement issued today, the Ministry clarified that these irregularities took place prior to the tenure of our current Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, adding that the Minister has instituted a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and implemented measures to properly investigate this incident and prevent future recurrence.

“It should be noted that these irregularities took place prior to the tenure of our current Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby. He was sworn in on February 10th, 2021. That notwithstanding, Minister Demby has instituted a zero-tolerance policy for corruption and has led aggressive implementation measures to properly investigate this incident and prevent future recurrence. These measures include:

1. Firstly, the MOHS has filed a formal request to the ACC to thoroughly investigate the improper use of funds in 2020, ensuring those involved are identified and brought to justice.

2. The Ministry has also abolished the use of catering for affiliated events such that training participants receive DSAs that cover their allowances for lunch and refreshments. This will remove the opportunity and reduce the risk for collusive schemes in remote locations where proper receipts and effective oversight are challenging.

3. DSAS and transportations allowances are paid through mobile money that ensure only registered participants who attended trainings or workshops are eligible for payment and easy to contact in the case where a follow up will be required.

4. Program or hired vehicles are installed with GPS to further ensure these vehicles are deployed to training or workshop locations,” the Ministry stated.

They added that the Ministry’s overriding objective is to ensure that every individual has access to high quality healthcare.

“We thank the Global Fund for their partnership in our quest for Universal Health Coverage and bringing care to the hard-to-reach communities. Corruption has no place in the future, and we will continue to prioritize transparent and effective programing in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation,” the Ministry concluded.

Check out the release below: