Whereas Nigeria was ranked 5th among the 22 high TB-burden countries that collectively bear 80 per cent of the global burden of TB, WHO, in a report it issued early this month, maintained that "the economic cost of malaria, arising from cost of treatment, loss of productivity and earning due to days lost from illness, may be as high as 1.3 per cent of economic growth per annum", adding that "the disease is a major cause of maternal mortality and poor-child development," in the country.
Going further with a breakdown on the rampaging scourge of the diseases in Africa, the health body disclosed that "the number of TB cases notified in the country increased from 31,264 in 2002 to 90,307 in 2008, more than 450,000", noting that "the TB burden in Nigeria is further compounded by the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic and the emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
Moreso, it is undisputed that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDs in the country is so high, warranting pundits to call for a declaration of a state of emergence on the issue.
It is, however, worrisome that despite these creepy facts on the health condition of the country, funds made available by the international community to fight the menace of these dreaded diseases reportedly found their way into illegal private pockets.
This fact came to light week Monday, following an alarm that was raised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, which said it had concluded plans to probe seven non-governmental organisations, NGOs, over allegations that they diverted millions of dollars earmarked to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria in Nigeria.
The anti-graft agency stressed that the probe became imperative sequel to a pronouncement by an international financing institution that invests the world's money to save lives under the global fund initiative.
ICPC said it was concerned over threat by the international 'good Samaritans' to terminate its funding to organisations in Nigeria owing to the massive fraud.
Specifically, it was the Office of the Inspector-General of Global Funds to Nigeria that called the attention of the commission to this alleged fraud.
The donor-body insisted that it discovered the heinous fraud in a recent audit of 15 grants amounting to US$474,519,260, which it said was disbursed between 2003 and 2009, for the purpose of saving lives in the country.
Meantime, ICPC, upon receiving the complaint, vowed to use the said audit report to confirm the veracity of the allegations with a view to bringing all the erring officials of the NGOs to book.
In a statement issued by the Head, Public Enlightenment Department of ICPC, Mr Mike Sowe, in Abuja last week, the agency named the seven organisations fingered in the alleged fraud, and gave a breakdown of how the said monies were allegedly utilized illegally.
The anti-graft body alleged that, "The funds were disbursed to the following beneficiaries in Nigeria; the Yakubu Gowon Centre for International Co-operation, the National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NACA), the Society for Family Health (SFH), the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN) and the CHAN-MEDIPHARM (MEDIPHARM)."
In its breakdown, the commission alleged that "the Yakubu Gowon Centre for International Cooperation illegally transferred funds outside the country amounting to $15.5 million, incurred extra-budgetary expenditures of $5.2m, and had undocumented expenditures amounting to $3m. The unretired expenditures of the centre for the period under review amounted to $1.2m while the management fee not accounted for was $659,000.
"The National Action Committee on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria incurred extra-budgetary expenditures of $71,000 in addition to $679,000 as unretired expenditures; while the Society for Family Health had 861.000 admin charges not accounted for and $68,000 unretired expenditures
"The National Malaria Control Program had $711.000 unretired staff advances and $10,000 underfunded balance of rent grant. The audit report also indicated a lack of transparency in the programme's procurement management process which resulted in price inflation. The report pointed out that some suppliers could not be located at their given addresses.
"The Association for Reproductive and Family Health could not account for $335,000 listed as admin charges while its unretired expenditures amounted to $168,000.
"The audit report further indicated that the Christian Health Association of Nigeria illegally transferred foreign currency amounting to $11.6m to non-programme-related account abroad and later refunded the money in local currency. The association was also accused of having a weak procurement and logistic management resulting in inflation of prices.
"The report further accused the CHAN MEDIPHARM, of over-charging on distribution of products to the tune of $256,000; with $77,000 as unexpended amount on training.
Consequently, ICPC maintained that in view of the potential damage the audit report poses to the reputation and image of Nigeria, as well as the danger these organisations through their alleged unwholesome practices are subjecting millions of Nigerians suffering from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, that it would use all available legal instruments to bring the culprits to book, adding that it would equally conduct a system study and review to forestall a recurrence of this kind of embarrassment to the country.
Though the innocence of the accused organisations will remain intact pending when the authenticity of the allegations are proved, the onus is, however, on ICPC to match its words with action.
Source:
Vanguard
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