Priotise accident victims care’, UN rep. urges healthcare providers

By Ibironke Ariyo

Dr Yusuf Suberu, representative of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for the United Nations Decade of Action on Injury Prevention, has urged healthcare providers nationwide to prioritise care for accident victims.

Suberu made the plea during his foundation’s courtesy visit to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) on Monday in Abuja, where they donated relief items and cash gifts to the hospital and accident victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Dr Yusuf John-Suberu Foundation donated N500,000 to the hospital and gave accident victims N20,000 each, along with essential items such as tissues, antiseptic products, soaps and hand washes.

As the FCT Squadron leader of the Directorates of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Suberu stressed the importance of immediate medical attention for accident victims, highlighting that timely intervention was crucial to saving lives.

His call to action followed concerns over hospitals denying emergency treatment to accident victims due to a lack of police reports, resulting in unnecessary deaths.

Suberu commended FMC Abuja for its swift response to accident victims, encouraging other government and private hospitals to follow suit.

He shared his personal experience of bringing accident victims to the hospital, noting that none were ever rejected.

According to him, if stakeholders in the health sector are doing what they ought to do, patients will not suffer at the hospitals.

“This is a place to emulate. Imagine if all the other public and private hospitals are functioning the way this hospital is functioning, that means our health care will improve drastically.

“By prioritising accident victims’ care and working together, we can prevent unnecessary deaths and reduce the impact of accidents worldwide,”he said.

Suberu called on the government at all levels to support and to set up the necessary apparatus that would also help transform the health sectors in the country.

He called on commuters and pedestrians to be careful when driving or using the roads adding that ember months comes with an increase in vehicular movement due to festivities attached to the months.

“This is the ember months, I want to tell all the commuters and the pedestrians on the need to be careful.

“Drive as if everybody in Nigeria depends on you, know that somebody’s else safety is your own safety and please before you cross the road, look well.

“When you are driving, don’t make phone calls, that one second is very important, when there is fatigue, take time to rest and regain energy to be able to continue your journey,”he said.

Reacting, the Medical Director, FMC, Dr Saad Ahmed, commended the foundation’s “impactful gesture towards the hospital and accident victims.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Head of clinical services, FMC, Dr Bioku Muftau, said that the donation addressed challenges faced by accident victims, including anonymity, lack of access to relatives, phones, and even funds.

He also said that the generous gesture reinforced the importance of community support in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“Accident victims were vulnerable individuals who may be unknown, rich or poor, but require immediate care.

“This donation will provide basic resuscitative materials like IV fluids, bandages, and sutures and this foundation’s support sets an example for others to assist accident victims.

“We urge other organisations to follow suit, helping more victims access quality care. We also believe that timely intervention by doctors with these critical supplies will save lives, “he said.

Present at the event were representatives of VIO, members of NGOs and CSOs on road safety matters, relevant stakeholders among others.