28 Oct 2013

Chairperson of Corruption Prevention Committee (CPC) in the Ministry of Health, Ms Ontlametse Mokopakgosi has encouraged health workers in the Okavango area to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and saviour and be born again into the Christian faith. This would make them refrain from engaging in corruption activities, she said.

Addressing Okavango health workers at the corruption prevention sensitisation meeting in Gumare on October 23, Ms Mokopakgosi, who is also the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health said if they were spiritually conscious, it will help them to be transparent and honest towards work ethics and refrain from unacceptable activities such as corruption.

She said engaging themselves in bribery, favoritism and nepotism contributed to the downfall of the country’s economy and urged them to join hands with the government in fighting crime.

Public officers as policy implementers, she said, should be exemplary to the public in the fight against crime in the country. Ms Mokopakgosi said due to corruption activities, the ministry has created unnecessary posts by employing some people (Anti Corruption Unit) as watchdogs in trying to curb corruption when they could have employed professional health workers to improve service delivery within the ministry.

“Please go back and start afresh with the way you are driving your daily duties at your respective working places because I do not want to lose any of you,” she said. Furthermore, she urged the participants to go and spread the message to those who did not attend the meeting. She also said supervisors should be responsible towards their work and act when necessary instead of failing to take action only because they indulge in the same habit with their juniors.

On the dress code at the workplace, she advised her workers to dress well at all times while on duty, giving an example of a nurse who  is expected to put on a full uniform, epaulettes on shoulders and short earrings.   

Giving a vote of thanks, Gumare Primary Hospital Chief Administration Officer, Ms Queen Lekweni commended CPC members for educating health workers in the area on corruption issues. Ms Lekweni said because some might be engaged in crime innocently, the expectation after the meeting is that they will be able to understand the vision, mission and values of the ministry and they will rectify their mistakes.

Furthermore, she said, her colleagues must take the message seriously by changing the way they have been doing things at their respective stations. ENDS