The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a nationwide sensitization campaign on the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017.
The law mandates that hospitals provide immediate emergency medical treatment to gunshot victims without requiring prior police clearance or reports.
At the signing ceremony at the NOA headquarters in Abuja, the Deputy Head of Delegation for the ICRC in Nigeria, Mr. James Matthews, stated that despite the existence of the law, delays in medical care for gunshot victims persist in parts of the country.
These delays, he said, often stem from limited public awareness and hesitancy among healthcare providers in handling such emergencies.
Mr. Matthews stated that the collaboration with NOA would leverage the agency’s extensive outreach to ensure widespread knowledge of the Act.
He commended the partnership, noting, “Through NOA’s broad national reach, the ICRC will help ensure gunshot victims receive timely medical care. Improved awareness will save lives, particularly in remote or conflict-affected areas.”
Representing the Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency’s Head of Health and Social Care, Dr. Femi Ayiola, emphasized the critical need for sensitization.
He explained that many lives have been lost historically due to requirements for police reports before treatment, which delayed urgent care.
The representative also affirmed that NOA would deploy its structures across all 774 Local Government Areas, alongside social media, community engagement, and other channels, to educate citizens on their rights.
“The agency will work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that no one is denied emergency medical care in the event of gunshot injuries,” the representative said, adding that the partnership would promote responsible behavior and contribute to saving lives through prompt access to treatment.” He said.
Both organizations expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance public understanding of the law enacted in 2017 to prioritize the sanctity of life and reduce preventable deaths from delayed care.
The MoU aligns with ongoing efforts to protect healthcare access and uphold humanitarian principles in emergency situations.
