By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Abuja
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen public awareness of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017 across Nigeria.
At the signing ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, the Deputy Head of Delegation of the ICRC in Nigeria, Mr. James Matthews, said the partnership would promote nationwide sensitisation on the provisions of the law and ensure that victims of gunshot wounds receive prompt medical attention.
Matthews explained that delays in treating gunshot victims often stem from limited awareness of the law, as well as concerns among health workers and members of the public about procedures for handling such cases.
He noted that the collaboration between the ICRC and the NOA would focus on improving knowledge about the protection of healthcare services and the need for timely access to emergency medical treatment.
According to him, strengthening public understanding of the law will help remove fears that sometimes prevent hospitals and medical personnel from offering immediate care to gunshot victims.
Representing the Director-General of the NOA, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency’s Director of Health and Social Care, Dr. Femi Ayiola, said the NOA would deploy its nationwide structure to disseminate information about the law to citizens across the country.
Ayiola emphasised that the law clearly mandates medical facilities to provide immediate treatment to victims of gunshot wounds, while notifying the appropriate authorities afterward.
He added that greater public awareness of the Act would help save lives by ensuring that victims receive urgent medical attention without unnecessary delays.
