By Henry Kargbo
Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), a Civil Society Organization has recently called on the Anti-Corruption to investigate officers at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation alleged misappropriations of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollar USD150,000, meant for the procurement of a new dialysis machine for use at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.

BAN made the call following the release of the 2021 Audit Report published by Audit Service Sierra Leone’s findings into Government of Sierra Leone accounts and financial allocations made to Ministries Department and Agencies.

Reports are that Connaught Hospital is being run without a dialysis machine to cater for stroke and kidney patients and other health related challenges. In 2018 to 2019, Government through the MoHS allocated the said amount of money for the procurement of a brand new dialysis machine to help patients with their treatments.

BAN Executive Director, Abu Bakarr Tarawally said report of the misappropriation USD 150,000 meant for the purchase of a new machine is part of the Two Hundred and Eight Billion Leones cash loss reported in many sectors across the country.

He said such issue can be translated into two fold namely physical cash loss and bed services delivery.

Tarawally said the misappropriation of the USD150 has deprived so many people from getting the necessary treatments in Freetown.