Adewole: FG Committed to Reducing Mortality, Morbidity from Road Accidents

By Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has promised that the federal government is committed towards reducing mortality and morbidity from road crashes in Nigeria.

Adewole gave this assurance at the weekend when he received on courtesy call the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of United Nation on Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, in Abuja.

He said that the federal government through the Ministry of Health would continue to partner with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant stakeholders towards realization of the goals of the UN decade of action on road safety in Nigeria.

He pointed out that some of the activities of the ministry are in line with the fiveth pillar of the UN decade of action which include establishing and develop a formal training for paramedics in accredited institution in Nigeria with full curriculum and placement into scheme of service in the country.

He informed that there is a fully equipped level 1 Trauma Centre at the National Hospital where victims with complex injuries from Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) are treated, adding that there are also an established National auto crash integrated data system (NACRIS), which harmonises database of RTC in the country.

Adewole stated that there is a development of National Policies on Emergency Medical and National Ambulance Services in the country. 

He further explained that the ministry has started the implementation of free treatment of victims of RTC within the first 24 hours of incident.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the ministry has a consolidated Emergency Medical Service on various highway corridors.

He mentioned that a pilot of the scheme was undertaken on the Abuja/ Kaduna Highway corridor during the closure of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in April this year.

Earlier, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of United Nation on Road Safety, Todt expressed the need for the Nigerian government to enact a legislative act for road users in Nigeria.

He added that it would reduce considerably accidents on Nigeria roads