By Ejiofor Toochi
In a distressing trend, Nigeria continues to witness a concerning number of cases where accident and gunshot victims are turned away by hospitals for lack of a police report. Tragically, these victims, often targeted by armed robbers, are losing their lives due to the denial of immediate medical attention.
Given the high rate of insecurity and accidents in Nigeria, it’s unfortunately not surprising that such cases occur often. However, it’s truly disheartening that even in severe situations, victims are still being denied medical attention.
Such was the case of Odiri Onosigho, a 32-year-old accountant, who in April 2021 tragically lost his life after a robbery in Festac, Lagos.
Despite being shot and in need of urgent medical attention, he was denied treatment at both government and private hospitals because he didn’t have a police report.
READ ALSO: Unveiling the mystery: Hidden facts of Sodom and Gomorrah
To address cases like these, the National Health Act was enacted in 2014. According to the law, “a health care provider, health worker, or health establishment shall not refuse a person emergency medical treatment for any reason, and anyone that goes against the law is liable to a fine of N100,000, or a jail term of six months or both.”
To further reinforce its importance, the Nigerian government introduced The Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot act in 2017. This act mandates hospitals to offer treatment and care to gunshot victims, regardless of their ability to make a monetary deposit.
Even with the existence of these laws, it’s disheartening to see that the situation hasn’t improved. The primary duty of medical practitioners/doctors should be to care for and ensure the safety of their patients. However, many have put their fears first. They have cited fear of harassment from the police as their reason for requiring a police report.
In response to this, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, recently called on all medical practitioners to offer “prompt and compassionate treatment” to gunshot and accident victims, regardless of whether a police report is present or not.
He assured that the Nigeria Police will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to fully enforce the provisions of the Act.
The statement partly read, “The IGP’s directive aligns with the full enforcement of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act of 2017, which mandates that all healthcare providers prioritize the immediate care and stabilization of such patients, recognizing the critical importance of timely medical attention in saving lives.”
According to the IGP, the decision was made to avoid more deaths, as seen in the case of Greatness Olorunfemi.
Recall that in September 2023, Olorunfemi, a victim of ‘one-chance’ robbers in Abuja, sadly lost her life after being rejected by Maitama General Hospital.
She was stabbed and thrown from a ‘one-chance’ vehicle. A kind stranger rushed her to Maitama General Hospital, but the nurses allegedly refused treatment without a police report. Tragically, she was left to die on the highway.
The cases of Odiri Onosigho, Greatness Olorunfemi, Moradeun Balogun, and many others emphasize the critical importance of prioritizing life-saving measures over bureaucratic procedures in hospitals. Both the police and medical practitioners should ensure that accident and gunshot victims are attended to, and not turned away because they do not have a police report.
READ ALSO: Food crisis: 2.6 million Nigerians may go hungry in 2024 – FAO
