The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) have initiated a strategic partnership aimed at preventing corruption and strengthening institutional transparency within the healthcare system.
The collaboration was discussed during a courtesy visit by the Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Professor Chituru G. Orluwene, to the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC) of ICPC in Rivers State, Mrs. Ekere Usiere, at the Commission’s state office in Port Harcourt.
Leading a delegation of senior management staff from the hospital, Professor Orluwene said the engagement formed part of his early priorities after assuming office this year, noting that proactive collaboration with anti-corruption institutions is essential to building a transparent and accountable healthcare system.
“Upon resumption, the ICPC was one of the foremost federal agencies I wrote to seeking this engagement,” he said, stressing that the hospital’s leadership is committed to addressing corruption through preventive measures rather than reactive interventions.
The CMD likened corruption prevention to routine maintenance of medical equipment, noting that stopping graft before it occurs is more effective than attempting to remedy its consequences. He therefore requested the Commission’s support in training hospital staff to build a strong ethical framework capable of preventing corrupt practices.
Responding, Mrs. Usiere commended the CMD’s proactive approach and welcomed the proposed collaboration, describing staff training in corruption prevention as a critical first line of defence.
She also proposed a comprehensive “system study and review” of the hospital’s operational processes to identify institutional vulnerabilities that could enable corrupt practices.
“A thorough system overhaul is not just beneficial; it is necessary to build a transparent and efficient institution,” she stated.
The RACC further highlighted the role of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), describing it as the Commission’s “eyes and ears” within federal institutions, including UPTH, and reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to strengthening integrity systems across government establishments.
The meeting, held at the ICPC Rivers State Office conference room, was attended by key management staff of UPTH and senior operatives of the Commission.
According to the Commission’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, the engagement marks an important step toward institutionalising ethical practices and preventing corruption within one of the region’s leading healthcare institutions.
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