HIE Worried Over Picture Taking at Accident Scenes

An NGO, Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), has advised the public to have a change of attitude toward taking pictures at the scene of accidents and during other emergency period.

Its Executive Director, Mr Paschal Achunine, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Achunine said that positive actions should be taken to rescue the victims of accidents and disaster instead of people taking pictures and videos to post on social media.

NAN reports that HEI is a non-profit making organisation established to assist victims of road accidents and indigent citizens by offsetting their hospital bills before the arrival of the victims families.

Achunine said, “There is an urgent need for change of attitude at the scenes of accidents and or other emergencies.”

According to him, HEI has began training Emergency/First Responders to ensure they are equipped with the right Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) First Aid and Crowd Control Skills during emergencies.

He said no fewer than 30
people had been trained, including officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOl, Police, Corps members the Prisons Service officials.

Achunine said that social workers at the National Orthopaedic Hospitals, Igbobi, and social workers at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and students had also been trained.

“Everyone so trained is duly certified and licenced to handle such cases without fear of harassment by law enforcement agencies or the hospital authorities,” he said.

NAN reports that FRSC had commended the HEI for giving prompt support and assistance to save lives of over 200 accident victims in the last two years.

Mr Hyginus Omeje, Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC, gave the commendation at the third year anniversary of the NGO in 2018.

(NAN)