The Federal Government has ordered all health facilities, both private and public to admit and treat gunshot victims without police report, and also calls on law enforcement agencies to assist in ensuring that gunshot victims get immediate treatment.
This directive is contained in a statement released by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare on December 5, 2024, signed by the Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe
According to the statement, gunshot victims come under medical emergencies that require urgent attention in order to save the life of the patient or victim.
The Ministry said it is aware of the slow or non-compliance by most medical facilities going contrary to the Gunshot Art 2017, which mandates all medical facilities to provide compulsory treatment and care for the victims of gunshots and related matters.
The statement further added that the Act stipulates that “Every hospital in Nigeria whether public or private shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without police clearance.”
“Every person including security agents shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for immediate treatment.”
In line with these provisions of the Gunshot Act 2027, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare expresses concern about the state of gunshot incidences and the refusal of some of the health facilities to administer treatment and care for patients without a police report.
The Coordinating Minister of the Health and Social Welfare Ministry, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, therefore calls on all medical practitioners to comply with this national law by providing prompt treatment and care to these victims to prevent death while strategies are being put in place by the Ministry to ensure compliance to the Act by Nigerian healthcare facilities. The statement reads
The statement also urged the police to comply with and enforce the provisions of the compulsory treatments and care for victims of Gunshot Act 2017 with promptness as well as reassure the health facilities that treatment of gunshot victims is not illegal.
