Highway Deaths: HEWAN Tasks FG on Ambulance Points, Emergency Response

The Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has urged the Federal Government to urgently establish well-equipped ambulance points along major highways nationwide, especially on accident-prone routes, to enable faster emergency response and reduce avoidable deaths.

The association said the continued absence of rapid rescue and pre-hospital care has worsened the impact of road crashes, turning survivable incidents into fatal tragedies and leaving many victims with lifelong disabilities.

HEWAN made the call while commiserating with families affected by a recent ghastly motor accident along the Ibadan Expressway, which reportedly claimed the lives of friends of British-Nigerian two-time unified world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, while others sustained severe injuries.

In a statement jointly signed by HEWAN President, Vivian Ihechu and Secretary, Temitope Obayendo, the association noted that beyond the immediate causes of road traffic crashes, a significant number of deaths occur because victims do not receive timely rescue, stabilisation and definitive medical attention after accidents.

The health writers therefore urged the Federal Government to urgently establish well-equipped ambulance points along major highways nationwide, especially on accident-prone routes, to enable faster emergency response and reduce avoidable deaths.

The group stressed that these ambulance points should be strategically located and manned by trained personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), noting that quicker response and evacuation times could save countless lives.

Describing functional highway ambulance services as a necessity rather than a luxury, HEWAN said many Nigerians who lost their lives on the roads could have survived if emergency medical care had arrived earlier.

The association also called for the training and deployment of first responders along major highways to provide immediate life-saving care, including stabilising victims before transporting them to nearby health facilities.

Additionally, HEWAN urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to take a coordinated approach to strengthening emergency response systems across states, as road traffic accidents continue to claim thousands of lives annually.

It noted that many fatal crashes become tragic not only because of their severity, but due to delayed or completely absent emergency intervention, leaving victims unattended while bystanders lack the training or tools to help.

HEWAN described improved highway emergency response as a cost-effective public health intervention that would save lives, reduce long-term disability and lessen the burden on families and the healthcare system.

The association also drew attention to ongoing systemic challenges in the health sector, urging government to urgently resolve the prolonged health workers’ strike, warning that an efficient emergency response system cannot function without available, motivated and adequately supported healthcare professionals.