Health, accident and emergency response professionals in Nigeria have lauded Trauma Care International Foundation (TCIF) for taking proactive steps to save thousands of traumatised persons in the country through their charity.
The foundation recently held a trauma conference in Lagos where stakeholders from private and public sectors across the country brainstormed on how to improve services to victims.
Majority of speakers at the event demanded increased government and private sector investments in facilities that will ease the plight of trauma victims. They also called for more trauma care education and awareness, just as efforts should be made to make blood available to accident victims in the country.
The experts who spoke at the conference bemoaned cases where doctors and medical officials turn down the request to treat patients in emergency conditions, and demanded that doctors abide by their oath to render medical assistance to patients in critical conditions and save lives as demanded by the profession.
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire lauded the organisers of the event saying it came at a time the Federal Government was taking steps to curb the scourge of trauma on citizens.
Ehanire, who was represented by the Medical Director of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Lagos lamented the increase in number of deaths recorded from accidents in the country.
The Minister also called on NGOs to scale up partnership with the government to boost healthcare service delivery to traumatised Nigerians.
A participant, Christian Ikpa told journalists that thousands of Nigerians die annually not knowing where and how to get help in times of trauma.
“I commend the effort of Trauma Care Foundation, but given the magnitude of the challenge and the population of the country, it is important that more private sector establishments partner with the government in investing in the requisite infrastructure, and the hiring and training of officials involved in the management of trauma. There is also the need to increase awareness on how and where victims can get help, “Ikpa said.
Trauma Care International Foundation said the conference was organized to provide a platform for debate and stimulation of inter-disciplinary discussions in the field of trauma care and emergency response management.
Some of the topics discussed at the conference include: Transforming healthcare in Nigeria through trauma network, securing healthcare financing for trauma and emergency services, National Health Act and its provision for emergency care, and improvement in pre-hospital emergency care systems.
Speakers and participants were drawn from federal and states ministry of health, national assembly, hospitals, Federal Road Safety Corps, first responders to trauma and accidents, media, insurance and non-governmental organisations.
