Persistent Denial of Treatment and Care To Victims of Gunshot Wounds and Other Emergencies: Urgent Need To Ensure Compliance With The Provision Of The Compulsory Treatment and Care of Gunshots Act, 2017
The Senate worried that even within the Federal Capital Territory, hospitals continue to
demand police reports before victims are attended to, with an embarrassing report of the death of Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi, a community developer and member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network on account of the alleged refusal of Maitama District Hospital Abuja to accept and treat her alter she was attacked and pushed out of a fast-moving vehicle on Tuesday at 26th September 2023 by notorious 'one-chance' operators;
Aware that following the enactment of the National Health Act, 2014 and particularly the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, victims of gunshots and other emergencies now have the right to treatment, a right which is rooted in section 1 thereof and reads to wit -
"As from the commencement of this Act, every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private shall accept or receive for immediate and
adequate treatment with or without police clearance any person with a gunshot wound."
Also aware that Section 3 of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 reiterates the provision of Section 1 thereof by providing that
"No gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid.",
Again aware that Section 13 provides that:
"Any person or authority including any police officer or other security agents or hospital who stands by or omits to do their bit which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds commits a why offense and shall on conviction be liable to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 or both."
A provision that the 10th Senate may review
to provide for stiffer penalties
Concerned that the problem with the treatment of gunshot victims is not because of the absence of law as the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 dearly provides for the mandatory treatment of such victims alongside punishment for contravention of the provisions of the Act, but that the problem is centered around enforcement and compliance.
Affirms the need to uphold the provisions of sections 14(2)(b], 33, and 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Altered) and to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 to stop further unnecessary loss of precious lives due to the persistent refusal of hospitals to admit, treat, and care for victims of pensions and other emergencies;
Accordingly, the Senate resolves to
1. Observe a minute of silence for the repose of the soul of Ms. Greatness Oloruntemi who allegedly lost her life on Tuesday 26 September 2023 due to the refusal of Maitama District Hospital Abuja to provide treatment and care because of the absence of a police report and several other Nigerians who lost their lives in similar circumstances nationwide,
2. Invite the Honourable Minister of Health and the Inspector-General of Police to appear before the Joint Committee on Health and Police Affairs to brief the Committee on the non-compliance with the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of
Gunshot Act, 2017; and
3. Mandate the Committees on Health, Police Affairs, and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.
Motion
Persistent Denial of Treatment and Care To Victims of Gunshot Wounds and Other Emergencies: Urgent Need To Ensure Compliance With The Provision Of The Compulsory Treatment and Care of Gunshots Act, 2017
The Senate worried that even within the Federal Capital Territory, hospitals continue to
demand police reports before victims are attended to, with an embarrassing report of the death of Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi, a community developer and member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network on account of the alleged refusal of Maitama District Hospital Abuja to accept and treat her alter she was attacked and pushed out of a fast-moving vehicle on Tuesday at 26th September 2023 by notorious 'one-chance' operators;
Aware that following the enactment of the National Health Act, 2014 and particularly the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017, victims of gunshots and other emergencies now have the right to treatment, a right which is rooted in section 1 thereof and reads to wit -
"As from the commencement of this Act, every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private shall accept or receive for immediate and
adequate treatment with or without police clearance any person with a gunshot wound."
Also aware that Section 3 of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 reiterates the provision of Section 1 thereof by providing that
"No gunshot victim shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment whether or not an initial monetary deposit has been paid.",
Again aware that Section 13 provides that:
"Any person or authority including any police officer or other security agents or hospital who stands by or omits to do their bit which results in the unnecessary death of any person with bullet wounds commits a why offense and shall on conviction be liable to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 or both."
A provision that the 10th Senate may review
to provide for stiffer penalties
Concerned that the problem with the treatment of gunshot victims is not because of the absence of law as the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 dearly provides for the mandatory treatment of such victims alongside punishment for contravention of the provisions of the Act, but that the problem is centered around enforcement and compliance.
Affirms the need to uphold the provisions of sections 14(2)(b], 33, and 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Altered) and to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 to stop further unnecessary loss of precious lives due to the persistent refusal of hospitals to admit, treat, and care for victims of pensions and other emergencies;
Accordingly, the Senate resolves to
1. Observe a minute of silence for the repose of the soul of Ms. Greatness Oloruntemi who allegedly lost her life on Tuesday 26 September 2023 due to the refusal of Maitama District Hospital Abuja to provide treatment and care because of the absence of a police report and several other Nigerians who lost their lives in similar circumstances nationwide,
2. Invite the Honourable Minister of Health and the Inspector-General of Police to appear before the Joint Committee on Health and Police Affairs to brief the Committee on the non-compliance with the provisions of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of
Gunshot Act, 2017; and
3. Mandate the Committees on Health, Police Affairs, and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.