In recent times, there have been disturbing reports of how victims of violence and gunshot have died, after some hospitals insisted not to offer emergency medical care, until they received a police report.
An instance was the death of Greatness Olorunfemi, a victim of ‘one chance’ robbery who died after the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja allegedly refused to give her prompt medical treatment.
Another was Cyril Igiebor, who died of gunshot injuries, after a private medical facility in Benin city refused to treat him due to inability to produce a police report.
The foregoing has generated much public outcry and reactions from public officials and the media.
Recently, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, directed medical doctors to give medical care to gunshot victims without asking for police report.
In this TVC Breakfast Show, Dr. Tuyi Mebawondu, a public health consultant, while fielding questions, analyses the constraints which might hinder doctors from implementing the directive of the IGP and calls for greater engagement with stakeholders, to make emergency medical care for victims of gunshot more effective. WATCH the interview.
