The Federal Government of Nigeria has directed hospital managements and health workers to comply with Act 2017, which mandates all medical facilities to compulsorily treat and care for gunshot and one-chance victims.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, in a statement released through the Ministry of Health Social Welfare, expressed concerns about the rising mortality in the country, due to refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot victims who did not present police reports.
He therefore called on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care for these victims to prevent death while, strategies are being put in place by the Ministry to ensure compliance to the Act by Nigerian healthcare facilities.
Prof. Pate said, “In recent times, the society has witnessed a rise in the loss of lives as a result of the refusal of some health facilities to attend to gunshot and victims of one-chance who do not present police reports.
“Gunshot victims come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention in order to save the life of the patient or victim. It has come to the knowledge of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social welfare, of the slow or non- compliance by most medical facilities going contrary with the gunshot Act 2017 which mandates all medical facilities to provide for the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshots; and related matters.
“The Act goes further to stipulate that: Every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance.
“Every person including security agents shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment”.
He has also urged the Police to comply with and enforce the provisions of the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshot ACT 2017 with promptness as well as reassure the health facilities that treatment of gunshot victims is not illegal.
