The Federal Road Safety Corps Lagos State Command in partnership with Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) and Lay First Responders International Michigan, USA have collaborated to train 1,000 Commercial Transporters as Lay First Responders in Lagos State.
FRSC Corps Commander, Olusegun Ogungemide addressing stakeholders, agencies and organisations at the closing Ceremony held at FRSC Hall, Ojodu Lagos.
As part of the Corps corporate strategic goal 2022 to accomplish reduction in road traffic crash fatality by 15%.
Ogungbemide acknowledged that the three organizations aim to reduce fatalities from road traffic crashes, which are currently the leading cause of youth casualties in Nigeria.
He disclosed that Federal Road Safety Corps is the lead agency in traffic management saddled with responsibility of creating a safe motoring environment.
He added that “Our partners Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) has been working with FRSC Lagos for the past five years in the “NONE SHOULD DIE” initiative which is targeted at providing adequate post-crash care to road traffic crash victims.
Since the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the command has enjoyed a good relationship with many General Hospitals across Lagos State.
According to him, Lay first responders International Michigan has also dimmed it fit to support Nigerians especially Lagosians to train commercial transporters and other road users as first responders.
The training of 350 persons began in the past few weeks as a pilot scheme. The just concluded training took place at various commands across Lagos which includes: Ikeja, Lekki, Ikorodu, Costain, Ojodu, Apapa, Ojota and among others.
The participants were carefully selected from crash prone corridors by trained officers of FRSC to ensures that those to be trained will be readily available to help and provide adequate response to crash victims whenever the need arises.
At the end of the training, the participants will be issued a certificate of participation and given a first aid bag to assist them carry out rescue after the exercise.
He appealed to people to alert the agency when there is any problem instead of going to the social media to write wrong and negative reports about them.
In a similar vein, Executive Director Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), Paschal Achunine, said non-profit humanitarian organization driven by the Love to pay the hospital bills of indigent patients and provides other interventions for vulnerable people in public health institutions and communities.
Achunine added that HEI also gives timely support to patients who require emergency medical attention, especially post-crash care for accident victims as well as provide certified training to the citizens on First Aid, CP, AED and Crowd Control.
According to him, the training is targeted to equipping the participants with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/First Aid skills necessary to handle pre-hospital emergencies thereby enhancing the chances of survival of road traffic crash victims. Improving lay first-responder training capabilities in Nigeria is a catalyst to meeting the UN Decade of action 2021-2030.
He expressed the appreciation for the groups for their commitment to the sustainability of its operating environment, bearing in mind that any. training and investment in people would translate to safety society and improve business economy .
Speaking to Zachary Eisner Operations Director and Co-Founder LFR International of a non-profit organization that empowers Lay First Responders. The organization has trained over 5,000 first responders to date.
He told the Scoper , that LFR International has been empowering Lay First Responders, Founded in 2016. The organization has trained over 5,000 first responders to date. LFR International is currently training first responders and conducting research in 8 low and middle income countries of need. Nigeria will be the seventh country where LFR holds first responder operations and sixth in sub- Saharan Africa.
Lagos State Transportation Management Authority, Assistant Controller Lagos West division, Oshodi Jubril Adeyemi said that” Road safety is the collective responsibility for all and not the job of one person as emergences can come up at anytime.”
Oshodi urged that people to report erring LASTMA officials who allegedly cause road accident with evidences if such cases of the road abuse, he added that drastic action will be melted on them.
Speaking to Abiola Nkechi Toluwani,
Founder/President Ladies on wheel Association of Nigerian, Women On Wheel NGO: appreciated the stake holders for sponsoring for the training of common men on the streets such as commercial drivers, market women transport agencies, motorist on emergency responding skills to save lives during road accidents.
She disclosed that before now, “Most persons were ignorant and finds it difficult to help victims in emergency situation that involve road accidents because hospital will ask for money for
treatment, police report and identity before admitting an accident victim but today with this training, I can confidently work with these stakeholders and assist an accident duty because it is a collective responsibility.
All the agencies and stakeholders are present in this training today.
As female cabs drivers and other motorists,,This free training is relevant because our operations involve commercial transportation, drivers witness crashes or sometimes get to crash scene earlier and faster than safety personnel, hence the need to empower them with the skill to help provide first aid to victims of road traffic crashes. The common men in the streets, mechanics ,traders, vulcanizers, security and safety agencies are not left out.