By Chioma Obinna

With road traffic accidents now the leading cause of death among young people in Nigeria and a WHO report revealing that over 42,000 fatalities were recorded in 2022 alone, the Health Emergency Initiative, HEI, and The M. Kukoyi Foundation, MKF, for the third consecutive year, are to provide critical support to victims during the crucial first 24 hours after an accident.

Victims of road accidents and other emergencies in the country often suffer severe consequences due to inadequate post-crash care and weak institutional response.

In response to this pressing issue, the partnership, funded exclusively by MKF, has saved numerous lives by ensuring access to emergency care. In 2023 alone, this collaboration supported 55 accident victims, achieving a remarkable 74 percent survival rate.

The M. Kukoyi Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit, has been active in various humanitarian efforts in Nigeria, including providing essential amenities in underserved communities and distributing food to vulnerable populations.

HEI, a reputable NGO, has a proven track record of supporting over 12,400 indigent and vulnerable patients, including accident victims across Lagos and beyond. The organisation has been recognized for its efforts with awards from the Lagos State Health Service Commission and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Building on the success of their previous collaboration, the Board of MKF recently approved additional funding to continue supporting accident victims in 2024.

From April to October 2024, the partnership benefitted over 66 accident and gas explosion victims across Lagos State and Ogun States representing 137 per cent of expected beneficiaries for the current year. This year, MKF expanded its efforts by providing admission kits to more than 75 accident victims treated at General Hospital Marina, Ajeromi General Hospital, and the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre (LASAEC), significantly improving their chances of survival. These admission kits are resuscitation kits which contain hospital consumables needed for prompt first aid.

Speaking on the initiative, Founder of MKF, Dr. Mobola Kukoyi expressed concern about the rising number of preventable deaths from road accidents, describing it as an existential threat to young Nigerians.

She emphasised the need for urgent, collective action to address this crisis and urged other corporate organizations and public-spirited Nigerians to collaborate with HEI, given its impeccable track record over the past nine years.

An Ashoka Fellow and Executive Director of HEI, Paschal Achunine expressed gratitude to the MKF Board for its unwavering commitment to improving the social well-being of Nigerians.

He highlighted that HEI’s existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with FRSC, the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, the Federal Medical Centre Ebute Metta, and several hospitals in Lagos State have been instrumental in the prompt resuscitation and stabilisation of crash victims brought to these facilities