The Road Safety Officers Wives Association (ROSOWA) is set to commence a nationwide campaign aimed at achieving zero Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) during the Ember Months.
The National President of ROSOWA, Dr. Nafisat Shehu-Mohammed, stated this during a visit to the National Trauma Center and Emergency Unit at the National Hospital, on Saturday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was as part of activities marking this year’s World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Crash Victims, themed “That Day; Remember, Support, and Act.”
Dr. Nafisat emphasised the need for greater collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC ) in its efforts to entrench a road safety culture among drivers and passengers.
She expressed sympathy for the victims and the families of those who lost their lives in road accidents while encouraging them to stay firm.
She said “We are here to commemorate the World Remembrance Day of Road Traffic Crashes Victims and we are here to support them especially the victims and their families and also to encourage them.
According to her, it is a day to commiserate and to let them know that we are with them in a situation like this especially the life changing circumstances they had over the incidences of road crashes that occur on our roads.
“We are here to yearn, advocate for zero tolerance to road crashes while we travel and commute on our roads so that we can all travel and return back safely to our loved ones,”she said.
The ROSOWA president cautioned the general public against the use of phone in capturing accident victims and road traffic crash scenes.
‘My message to the entire populace, commuters, drivers and passengers is that we should always learn to drive safely.
“Don’t drink while you drive. Follow the traffic rules so that we can curb the menace because so many have lost their lives and not just one due to reckless behaviours on the highways.
“Our priority should be to provide immediate support and assistance to the victims. Let’s put aside our phones and offer them the help and swift response they need.
“Once we’ve ensured their well-being, we can then focus on advocating for zero tolerance towards road traffic crashes,”she said.
The ROSOWA President called on relevant stakeholders in the transport sector to provide maximum support for effective traffic management in the country.
Speaking, the representative, United Nations Decade of Action on Injury Prevention, Dr. Yusuf Suberu, said that ROSOWA’s visit would bring much-needed relief to road accident victims currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Suberu said that the aim and objectives of the UN was been fulfilled because the theme says “That Day” “Support, Remember and Act.
“ROSOWA is not just remembering them but also supporting them and I am sure this will resonate hope for those who are injured in the hospital and waiting for recovery as this gesture have a way of helping them to recover.
“This is because at the moment, they are traumatised with the event that happened, so seeing people coming to sympathise with them, encourage them and giving them gifts will give them a sense of hope to live for the future.
“Everything ROSOWA has done here today, we support it. We will continue to advocate for zero tolerance to RTCs in all the 36 states of the Federation including Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja,”he said.
Also, an Assistant Director at the National Hospital, Mr. Muhammad Adamu, who led the ROSOWA members around the facility, assured them that the hospital management would continue to prioritise the care of road accident victims.
Adamu, however, commended ROSOWA for supporting the victims currently receiving treatment at the National Trauma Center and Emergency Unit.
“I am happy and delighted to have the ROSOWA visit us today. It’s honouring and inspiring. They are here to encourage us and give us preventive measures to avoid road traffic crashes or incidence or the patient.
“This is really comforting and really a succor to patient of road crashes and we appreciate this gesture, “he maintained.
NAN reports that the National President of ROSOWA, Dr. Nafisat Shehu-Mohammed, presented cash gifts, wheelchairs, crutches, stretchers, sanitary pads, and other items to road accident victims at the National Hospital, Abuja.
