ICPC, UBTH collaborate in fight against corruption

The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has expressed its commitment to ensuring a synergy with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) even as the hospital pledged zero tolerance for corrupt practices among members of staff.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, made this known during the inauguration of UBTH Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) by the Edo State office of ICPC on Wednesday.

Obaseki, who said the hospital’s vision is to provide quality healthcare delivery in West Africa as well as to improve client’s health by the integration of consistent quality care, education and research in a compassionate environment, called on the workers to shun corrupt practices.

Obaseki, who applauded the initiative by ICPC, said it will “open up the space for UBTH to embrace transparency in all its activities and operations”.“The initiative will give staff of UBTH room to vent their agitations if any, through the unit. We welcome the committee and the anti-corruption fight.”

ICPC Commissioner for Edo/Delta states, Olukile Olusesan, harped on institutional reforms and reviews to check corruption in the ongoing fight against graft in the country. He sued for synergy for all stakeholders to support the unit inaugurated at UBTH.Chairman, UBTH Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), Dr. Steve Ayinbuomwan, assured of the committee’s commitment to its mandate, swhich is to serve for three years.

Delivering a lecture Mr. Ezeh Ansel from ICPC in a paper presentation titled “Building Strong Institutions through the Activities of Anti-Corruption and Transparent Monitoring Units”, lauded the CMD of UBTH, Prof. Obaseki for sustaining a strong health institution. “Your rear knowledge of medicine places you in a pedestal of integrity worthy of emulation at all times. It is with this mindset that we have come to build on the already existing relationship to provide a common front against corruption and corrupt practices in the hospital”.

Ansel said the commission’s duty is not only to fight corruption through investigation, arrest and prosecution of corrupt persons, but also to prevent the occurrence of corrupt practices and ensure the infusion and institutionalization of integrity in the nation through preventive measures, public education and mobilization.