The Daily Observer (Banjul)
9 November 2009
editorial
We wish to reiterate the recent remarks by the president that his government will remain intolerant to curruption in public office. The president's remark came with reference to the health sector as a new health minister was being sworn in.
The revelation from the president indicates that despite the gigantic stride made by the him and people of this country in improving the health status of Gambians, some unscruplus elements within the health sector are bent on fustrating our endeavours by stealing public drugs and selling them to private pharmacies. Such a remark illucidates the fact that the president is still firm on his principles of accountability , transparency and probity.
As a matter of fact, corruption is an enemy of progress and development. In a society where corruption is the order of the day, public office becomes a tool for personal gains as development funds are diverted into channels that satisfy only personal interest. Corruption allows inefficiency to persist and distorts the potential for growth. It discourages foreign investment and distorts the budgets allocated to public procurement that enable basic infrastructure in poverty stricken areas. Such a system only perpetuates underdevelopment.
The most efficient resource for producing the sustainable socio-economic transformation of any nation is a healthy populace. In fact, the health status of the people of any given nation is in itself an indicator of growth and progress since it can be a parameter to gauge their participation in their development process. As such, any government investing in the health needs of a nation can be regarded as investing in sustainable development; hence, a responsible and responsive government.
This explains why a huge chunk of the state's budget is allocated to the health sector. The government has over the years registered significant progress in improving the health status of Gambians. The rapid erection of hospitals,health centres and clinics across the country equipped with modern medical facilities and highly trained doctors, have greatly improved the health status of the country. The monthly national cleaning initiative to make our environments fit and conducive for habitation, free maternal health services, just to mention a few, are clear evidences that the government is sparing no efforts in ensuring that we live a healthy life and in a healthy environment.
It is therefore unfortunate that despite all these endeavours, people who we trust to administer and guide the process are themselves robing the public health facilities of vital drugs for their personal gains, while medications for the poor go exhobitantly high in private pharamacies. State ambulancies are also spotted running private erands instead of serving their purposes and neglence by these same officials has left many of our modern medical equipment at a delapidating condition. It was such an unfortunate order that characterized the then administration and this is why the government of President Jammeh is built on the pillars of accountability , transparency and probity.
Since taking the mantle of leadership, the need to enhance public trust and confidence among the citizenry has been a central focus of President Jammeh. He has realised that nation building relies on public support, on people's willingness to give time to causes they care about as well as their tacit goodwill towards the nation as a whole. As such, restoring people's trust and confidence in the people who occupy public office is vital to the health of our development process. This means that we can trust our public servants to make a difference, not only in delivering value but also adding value.
It is therefore important that our public trustees work with the president to combat the menace of corruption in the country. Those who occupy public office will be judged by society; they should therefore do their utmost best to abide by the principles, which they swore to. Taking the president as a role model will go a long way in meeting our development targets. With a new minister for Health, we hope that the unfortunate realities that characterise the health sector will become history.
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