The Road Accident Information and Rescue Organisation has called on the federal government to mandate medical doctors in Nigeria to treat and provide medical care for accident victims in the society.
The organisation known as “Rescue Nigeria” stated this in a communique released after the National Rescue Submit it organised in Ibadan, Oyo state capital recently.
The summit, attended by various stakeholders, including top level regulatory bodies, called on the federal government to mandate medical doctors to treat and provide medical care for accident victims in the society.
The summit, therefore called on the government to regard any hospital that refuses treatment to accident victim or lack of response by any doctor in an emergency situation as committing “Professional misconduct” under the Nigeria Medical Association regulations.
In the communique read, by Mr. Olayinka Agboola, a Patron of the organization and Publisher of PMParrot/Parrot Xtra Magazine, the summit noted many lives have been lost due to lack of prompt attention for accident victims by many who are supposed to render medi-care assistance.
The summit pointed out that failure to assist road accident victims at any emergency hour is “a legal problem rather than a moral issue” saying people refrain from giving assistance to road accident victims in an emergency situation due to lack of “legal protection”.
In his opening address, the National Commander, Bamgboye Okanlawon told guests that the organisation has always been making continuous effort to address carnage on Nigerian roads, environment and serve as an advocacy group to complement the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Corps and other Emergency service providers in Nigeria.
Okanlawon stated that the summit was organised to engage government’s top level regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to jointly “find lasting solution to the problem of abandoning accident victims on Nigerian roads by the people around.
According to him, the habit of leaving accident victims in their terrible condition by people, without assisting them should be discarded, urging that anyone who assists victims of road accident should be treated courteously by the authority.
“This summit will be sending a strong message to encourage citizens willing to help passionately without any hindrance”.
He added that “88% of members of the public refuse to render required assistance to accident victims because of the fear of getting involved with the ‘authorities’. However over 50% of accident victims could be saved if immediate assistance is given during the golden hour”.
The Commander hinted that the organisation is “working closely with the local communities to provide them with preventive safety programmes for the safety of lives and to empower every individual through safety education and training to make our communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to emergency, and disasters of all kinds”.
Okanlawon called on both state and federal governments to establish Accident Trust Funds to finance and provide free medical treatment to accident victims in Nigeria.
This, according to him should be in the form of contributory scheme from heavy truck operators, haulage companies, bottling companies, commercial transporters and other fleet operators, including government support from sales of petrol and diesel.
The summit, also recommended that Nigerians, should be encouraged to render immediate assistance to accident victims by taking them to nearby hospitals.
It urged the authorities to give legal protection to citizens, that are willing to help accident victims at the scenes of accidents, adding that those who render such assistance to accident victims should be rewarded by the government, to encourage others.
Papers were presented by various stakeholders, including the Sector Commander for Oyo Federal Road Safety Corps, Mrs. Uche Winifred Chukwura, Zonal Director, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Slaku Bijimi and Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu.
Others speakers included the representative of Oyo state Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu and Founder, Shafaudeen In Islam, Prof. Olagoke Ariyo.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
