Circumcision Funds Looted In Makoni
Officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Population Services for Health (PSH) have been accused of stealing money that was meant for a voluntary male circumcision programme in Makoni District.
The officials are accused of pocketing transport money for those who were circumcised and also circumcising under-aged boys to meet targets and get more financial rewards.
The Manica Post quoted a source as saying there was collusion between the staff from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and those from PSH. Said the source:
There was an intricate web between Government nurses and those from PSH to defraud the programme. For every circumcision conducted, those between the ages of 15 and 18 receive U$4 while those between 19 and 29 years are paid US$10 as a transport fee to a health centre. Only males above 15 are eligible to be circumcised under this programme.
An anonymous tip-off reached PSH to the effect that a lot of shenanigans were taking place in Makoni District and a Data Quality Audit was instituted. A lot of glaring and unacceptable irregularities were picked.
It was discovered that boys below the age of 15 were being circumcised and to cover that up, they were recorded as over 15.
When investigators interviewed the beneficiaries and their parents, including checking their birth certificates, it came to light that a lot of under-aged boys had been circumcised.
Another anomaly is that over 20 percent of the beneficiaries that were randomly picked for verifications could not be located.
Some of their addresses were non-existent. The phone numbers provided were not reachable. We believe that the nurses were putting ghost names and pocketing the transport money.
The unnamed official added that the under-age circumcised boys are not in any danger because the procedure was done correctly and professionally.
Acting Makoni District Medical Officer, Dr. Hosea Maringe confirmed the scandal but refused to give the finer details, saying investigations are underway.
PSH executive director and managing trustee, Noah Taruberekera confirmed the matter and said they are responding to the allegations according to the organisation’s internal policies.
