By Bavoriat Clara
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to begin a nationwide sensitisation campaign on the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, which mandates hospitals to provide immediate treatment for gunshot victims without requiring prior police clearance.
The agreement was signed at the NOA headquarters in Abuja, where the Deputy Head of Delegation of the ICRC in Nigeria, James Matthews, noted that delays in the treatment of gunshot victims still occur in some parts of the country despite the existence of the law.
Mr Matthews explained that such delays are often caused by limited public awareness of the Act and hesitation among healthcare providers when handling gunshot-related emergencies. He said the partnership with NOA would leverage the agency’s nationwide structure to ensure that citizens and health workers are better informed about the provisions of the law.
He commended the collaboration, noting that through the broad national reach of NOA, the ICRC hopes to improve awareness and ensure that victims receive timely medical attention, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas.
Representing the Director General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the agency’s Head of Health and Social Care, Femi Ayiola, stressed the importance of the sensitisation campaign. He observed that in the past, many lives were lost because victims were required to present police reports before receiving treatment.
Dr Ayiola said the NOA would deploy its structures across all 774 Local Government Areas of the country, alongside social media and community engagement platforms, to educate citizens on their rights under the Act and encourage compliance by relevant stakeholders.
He added that the initiative would ensure that no one is denied emergency medical care due to gunshot injuries and would also promote responsible behaviour while improving access to lifesaving treatment.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the partnership would deepen public understanding of the law enacted in 2017 to protect the sanctity of life and help reduce preventable deaths caused by delays in medical care. The MoU, they said, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen humanitarian response and guarantee access to healthcare during emergencies.
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