The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a nationwide sensitisation campaign on the compulsory treatment of gunshot victims in Nigeria.
The campaign aims to raise public awareness about the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, which mandates hospitals to provide immediate treatment to gunshot victims before any administrative or financial procedures.
Speaking during the signing at the NOA headquarters in Abuja, the Director General of the agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by the Director of Health and Social Care, Dr. Ayoola Olufemi, said many Nigerians remain unaware of the law.
He noted that delays in medical care for gunshot victims often occur because hospitals demand police reports or financial guarantees before treatment.
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According to him, the partnership with the ICRC will help bridge this awareness gap and reduce preventable deaths.
Dr. Olufemi added that the agency’s nationwide presence, with 818 offices across the country, will help ensure the campaign reaches communities across Nigeria.
The sensitisation programme will focus on informing citizens, healthcare workers and institutions about their responsibilities under the law.
The Deputy Head of the ICRC in Nigeria, James Matthews, commended the NOA for the collaboration.
He noted that victims of gunshot injuries often experience delays in receiving urgent medical care, which can lead to preventable deaths.
According to him, the ICRC will leverage NOA’s national network to ensure the law becomes widely understood.
The partnership is expected to strengthen public awareness and encourage hospitals to comply fully with the provisions of the law.
