UBTH

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki, has warned members of staff of the Hospital to shun corrupt practices, stressing that the Hospital under his watch, has zero tolerance for corruption.

Obaseki who made the remark on Wednesday in Benin, during the inauguration of UBTH Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) by the Edo State Office of Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), expressed commitment to ensuring an improved synergy between the Hospital and the ICPC.

He applauded the initiative by the ICPC for the inauguration of UBTH Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), noting that 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 very much welcome the Committee and the anti-corruption fight is also about preventing corruption. I am sure the committee will also work in that line and articulate policies and action as well as enlightenment programme for staff in UBTH,” Obaseki said.

The UBTH CMD 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.

In his remark, ICPC’s Commissioner for Edo and Delta States, Mr. 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.

Mr. Ezeh Ansel of ICPC, who presented a lecturein 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 rare 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.

He noted that 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.

The Committee is to serve for a period of three years.