ENUGU – The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Osita Chidoka, on Monday called on the National Community Post Crash Care Initiative volunteers in Enugu to take their training seriously.
Declaring open a two-day training for the 40 volunteers selected from accident-prone communities in the state, Chidoka said they had a rare opportunity to render selfless service to the people.
“What a rare opportunity to render selfless service to your nation. You should justify the confidence reposed in your selection among many that sought for the programme.
“The corps has assembled highly technical instructors to ensure that participants are well groomed in first aid administration,’’ he said.
The corps marshal, who was represented by the Enugu Zonal Commander, Mr Kehinde Adeleye, said the pilot project was being undertaken in collaboration with Shell Petroleum Development Company and was targeted at increasing the involvement of communities in accident-prone highways.
According to him, at the end of the training, the volunteers will be able to administer first aid treatment to road crash victims, keep site of crash safe and reach out to other stakeholders in rescue operations.
Other areas that had the programme he said were Anambra, Imo, Delta, Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna and Gombe states where 27 crash corridors were identified.
In his remarks, the Enugu Sector Commander, Mr Fumbiyi Olawoyin, said the idea of the programme was muted in 2008 with the aim of rescuing accident victims especially at places and times where the FRSC was not available.
Olawoyin commended the traditional rulers of the communities where the volunteers were selected from as well as the volunteers for the enthusiasm they had exhibited to embrace the programme.
“After the training, we expect you to do those humanitarian jobs you do when accidents occur,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Uboji Ngwo, Igwe Basil Ugwuozor, commended the FRSC for the initiative and suggested that the project be extended to all the states in the country.
One of the volunteers, Mrs Anthonia Okwor, said she declared to do the job as part of her contribution to save lives.
The Red Cross, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the police, NEMA and the fire service were billed to present papers during the training. (NAN)
