The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law, the Bill for Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot saying it is an important legislation that will address the unnecessary discrimination that often results in needless loss of lives in hospitals across the country.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Oti Ovrawah who made this commendation in Abuja said the Bill has long been awaited and therefore called on relevant authorities, including hospital management and staff, law enforcement agencies and the general public to ensure that the new law is effectively implemented to guard against further loss of lives as a result of gunshot injuries.
A statement by the Head, Media Relations of the Commission, Fatimah Agwai Mohammad said the law prohibits hospital authorities or staff from demanding initial deposit of money before treatment, from any person that brings gunshot victims to hospital or any form of discrimination/ill-treatment including the demand for a police report.
In the same vein, the Acting NHRC boss commended the President for signing into law, the Anti-Torture Act, 2017 which makes comprehensive provisions for penalizing the acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and prescribes penalties for the commission of such acts.
Mrs Ovrawah also thanked the initiators of the Bills and the National Assembly for their input and pledged the readiness of the Commission to liaise with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that the citizens are adequately sensitized on the provisions of the laws to enable them to enjoy their full benefits.
Ovrawah called on the federal government to further strengthen the capacity of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) so that it could properly take care of every citizen saying that the constitutionally guaranteed right to life cannot be realized without the provision of affordable and accessible healthcare.