GOVERNOR ELECHI  ADVOCATES FOR AMBULANCE  EMERGENCY CENTRES

Worried by the inadequate spread of ambulance emergency rescue centres across the country, the Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Martins Elechi has advocated for a sustainable synergy to be built among relevant agencies in the health sector to establish an emergency rescue scheme to address the menace of trauma-related cases resulting from road traffic crashes.

Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Professor Chigozie Ogbu during the formal flag-off of a nationwide road safety campaign tagged “Operation Eagle Eye”, Chief Elechi frowned at the un-professional manner of handling most victims of road traffic crashes before being taken to the hospital, which often worsens the condition of injured victims.

The Governor also identified road traffic crashes as the most common cause of deaths in Nigeria when compared with other health issues such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, cholera and polio in view of the deplorable state of Nigerian roads and the non-compliance of the motoring public with traffic rules and regulations.

He therefore commended the FRSC management for its strides and sustainable initiatives as lead agency in the nation’s road traffic administration and safety management.

Speaking at the campaign launch, the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka stated that” Operation Eagle Eye is in continuation of a special campaign in 2007 to address perennial traffic challenges usually associated with the ember season”.

The Corps Marshal added that” part of the Corps’ efforts at consolidating on crash prevention strategies towards the ember months, is the dedication of five days of every month for special operation targeted at specific offences peculiar in the Command formations across the country” and stated that emphasis for the month of July this year is on overloading violation, driving with worn-out tyres and driving without spare tyres.

He recalled that part of the Corps’ deliberate policy of evolving the global best practise in road safety management in Nigeria, is the adoption of relevant technology such as a call centre, 256 V-Sat installations and ambulance emergency centres; in addition to critical involvement of stakeholders which has attracted a $330 million grant for Nigeria from the world bank in order to improve road rehabilitation on four major corridors in the country and procurement of road safety components for deployment along these corridors.

Chidoka added that the campaign flag-off will involve mobile courts at the five other designated locations at Uyo, Abeokuta, Dutse, Makurdi and Damaturu to prosecute erring traffic offenders, who would be primarily tried at the spot of committing the offences and warned motorists to exhibit the highest sense of road discipline and avoid acts that could lead to their prosecution and conviction.