The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that it is taking major steps to address the increasing cases of brain and spinal cord injuries caused by road traffic crashes in Nigeria.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, disclosed this in his address at the National Brain and Injury Conference in Abuja, organized by a non-governmental organization, the Brain & Spine Foundation Africa (BSFA).
The theme of the conference is “Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Prevention on Nigerian Roads, Public Awareness & Emergency Rescue.”
Biu, who was represented by the Chief of Medical Operations, FRSC, Davidson Okuobeya, noted that the importance of raising public awareness and implementing emergency rescue measures to prevent these life-threatening injuries cannot be overemphasised.
He said that the theme of the conference reflects the urgent need to tackle this issue in the country, adding that according to available records, brain and spinal cord injuries are among the most severe consequences of road traffic crashes.
“The FRSC, as the lead agency in road traffic administration and safety management, places a high value on human life and is committed to preventing avoidable accidents on the nation’s highways.
“To achieve its mission of eradicating road traffic crashes and creating a safe motoring environment, the FRSC has implemented various measures.
“These include the establishment of sixty Zebra Points under its Emergency Ambulance Services, thirty Road Traffic Crash Clinics/Help Areas, and twenty-five Medical Centres across the country.”
He also disclosed that FRSC focuses on sustained enforcement to apprehend traffic offenders, as well as advocacy and public enlightenment campaigns in churches and mosques.
“The Corps conducts medical outreaches in motor parks, targeting vulnerable drivers and providing free treatment.
“FRSC has trained patrol operatives and paramedics in critical corridors nationwide on best practices for handling road traffic crash casualties. This training aims to limit further injuries and complications such as brain and spine injuries.”
“The Corps has also collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) to pilot the first National Ambulance Services in Nigeria. Additionally, they have established a call centre with a toll-free number (122) to respond to all emergency situations promptly,” he said.
He emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach to combat the scourge of brain and spinal cord injuries.
“The FRSC welcomes collaboration with organizations like the Brain & Spine Foundation Africa to raise awareness about the devastating implications of these injuries.
“Not only do victims suffer permanent incapacitation, but their families also face the challenges of caregiving, and the nation incurs significant economic costs due to medical tourism abroad,” he said.
Earlier, the Consultant Neurosurgeon, Dr. Douglas Emeka Okor, called on Federal and State Governments to fix the country’s roads.
Okor said that a new culturally relevant and realistic strategy to improve the training and attitudes of Nigerian drivers is needed. He advised that every FRSC unit on the highway should have at least two individuals who were paramedics.
“Every FRSC unit in a particular locale must know the nearest health facilities and their capacity – from a geospatial point of view,” he said.
Engr Chika Okwuolisa, founder of BEFA, said that the organization was founded to create public awareness of brain and spinal conditions, inform and educate, support and advocate for people affected by these conditions in sub-Saharan African countries.
Okwuolisa called for funds to amplify public awareness and education in the country, noting that initiating conversations and collaboration among stakeholders, especially those in the road and safety sectors, was a vital first step.
“Training first responders and raising awareness about the importance of timely medical intervention can significantly impact the outcomes for individuals affected by neurological emergencies,” she added.
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