THE Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) has condemned the abuse and misapplication of funds donated by various stakeholders to the Ministry of Health in the fight against COVID-19, saying anyone found wanting should be dismissed to restore the Ministry’s integrity.

In a statement, MQHZ director general Dr Quince Mwabu said it was disheartening that the mismanagement of funds came at a time when the Ministry of Health had failed to pay frontline workers, a situation that merited the dismissal of the erring personnel.

”As Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ), we are very disappointed and strongly condemn reported abuse and misapplication of funds donated by various stakeholders for the purpose of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. These sad revelations have come at a time when the Ministry of Health has failed to pay allowances to frontliners. We demand that our hard working health workers fighting Coronavirus be paid immediately, as promised to them by the Health Minister [Dr Chitalu Chilufya],” stated Dr Mwabu.

“Because of the seriousness of the matter, we call for quick action from the Anti-Corruption Commission against all those behind this abuse. We cannot manage to let people abuse office and public resources for their personal benefit when the health sector has monumental challenges. We further demand that all donations towards the fight against COVID-19 be accounted for in order for cooperating partners to have confidence in the Ministry of Health once again. We propose that all those who will be found wanting must immediately be relieved of their duties.”

Last week, the Interim Audit Report on the utilisation of COVID-19 funds for the period February 1 to July 31, 2020, revealed that over K1.3 billion of donated resources was misapplied.