By Chioma Obinna

The Health Writers Association of Nigeria, HEWAN, has raised the alarm over Nigeria’s weak highway emergency response system, warning that hundreds of lives are being lost needlessly to road traffic crashes due to delayed or completely absent rescue and medical care.

The association said that while crashes are often unavoidable, deaths and permanent disabilities frequently occur because victims do not receive timely pre-hospital care and rapid evacuation to health facilities.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, jointly signed by the President, Mrs Vivian Ihechu, and the Secretary, Nrs Tope Obayendo, HEWAN expressed deep concern over the persistent loss of lives on Nigerian roads and commiserated with the families of victims of a recent ghastly accident on the Ibadan Expressway involving friends of British-Nigerian two-time unified world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua.

The association said the tragedy once again exposes the fatal consequences of poor emergency response on major highways, particularly on accident-prone routes.

“Road traffic crashes are a major public health challenge in Nigeria, but what is more troubling is that many victims die not solely from the impact of crashes, but from the lack of timely rescue, pre-hospital care, and definitive medical attention,” HEWAN said.
It stressed that functional highway emergency services are no longer optional but essential to saving lives.

HEWAN called on the Federal Government to urgently establish well-equipped ambulance points along major highways nationwide, especially on high-risk corridors, and ensure they are staffed by trained personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). According to the association, strategically placing ambulances would drastically reduce response and evacuation times and significantly improve survival outcomes for crash victims.

The association also urged the immediate training and deployment of first responders along all major highways to stabilise victims at crash scenes before transportation to the nearest health facilities. It is noted that early intervention within the “golden hour” can make the difference between life and death.
Beyond the federal government, HEWAN said the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has a critical role to play in strengthening emergency response systems across states.

It called for coordinated investments by governors in ambulance services, trauma response units, functional toll-free emergency numbers, and trained responders to ensure that accident victims receive prompt care regardless of where a crash occurs.

“Strengthening emergency response along highways is a cost-effective public health intervention,” HEWAN stated, adding that rapid evacuation and early medical care not only save lives but also reduce long-term disability and ease the burden on families and the healthcare system.

The association also drew attention to broader systemic challenges in the health sector, urging the government to urgently resolve the prolonged health workers’ strike, which it said continues to undermine emergency care and overall healthcare delivery. “An efficient emergency response system cannot function optimally without available, motivated, and adequately supported health professionals,” it warned.

“As health journalists committed to public wellbeing, we reiterate that saving lives after road traffic crashes is a public health priority,” HEWAN said, calling on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, emergency agencies, and health authorities to act decisively to improve highway emergency response and restore a functional healthcare system when lives hang in the balance.