At a July 14 press conference in Freetown’s Youyi Building, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sartie Kenneh issued a stern warning to those stealing or misusing drugs. He noted that some medical staff may collude with criminals to divert medicines during or after distribution, calling such actions a betrayal of public trust. “These drugs are the lifeline of our healthcare system,” he emphasized, stressing the need for cross-departmental collaboration.
Dr. Kenneh expressed frustration over the long-standing issue, despite ongoing government efforts to improve healthcare services. He demanded an immediate end to the thefts, warning that perpetrators would face severe penalties.
Chief Pharmacist Moses Batema also addressed the conference, highlighting that government-provided drugs and vaccines must be used appropriately. He voiced concern over eroded public trust due to the thefts, confirming that some staff had been suspended pending investigations.
Batema pledged to strengthen supply chain management through enhanced ethics training for employees. “Stealing drugs meant for the public is unacceptable,” he stated, underscoring that the crackdown would include stricter inventory checks and accountability measures to safeguard the free healthcare program.
