” Urge Gov Mutfwang to expeditiously launch the Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System
Plateau State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has condemned in the strongest terms,the recent wave of killings that have plagued the State since the Christmas Eve attacks which claimed hundreds of lives across the three affected Local Government Areas of Bokkos,Barkin Ladi and Mangu.
That Plateau has remained at the centre of these unabating attacks for over two decades now leaves a lot to be desired as far as the security architecture within and outside of the State is concerned.
A statement jointly signed by Dr Bapiga’an William Audu, the Chairman of NMA in Plateau and Dr Istifanus Bintum Bako, the Public Relations Officer of the organisation said more disturbing is the fact that scores of innocent persons are still being killed despite the presence of armed security personnel; and in the case of Mangu,a Curfew being in place.
While commiserating with the affected individuals,families and communities over these murderous rampages,we wish to call on Government at all levels to improve the resilience of these communities by delivering rapid infrastructural development.
The NMA further added that ” The perennial lack of power(electricity),a strong economic base,standard health facilities as well as employment opportunities for the rising population across the rural communities amongst others,has contributed in no small measure to making these communities vulnerable to unabating attacks by terrorists and other criminal elements.”
According to the NMA ” Furthermore,the security agencies need to do more in terms of increasing the available manpower,and also in the deployment of modern technological innovations in intelligence gathering and neutralization of security threats.”
Restructuring the security framework across the country has now become a necessity.
We also add our voice to the clamour for the establishment of State Police which will amongst others, provide the Chief Security Officer of the State the much needed power to direct appropriate security responses.
The State Joint Task Force (Operation Rainbow) needs to be fortified and provided with the means and needed tools to mount an effective response to these attacks and to also nip in the bud,any attempted plan to wreak havoc on the citizens.
The relevant agencies of the Federal Government with prosecutorial powers should without any further delay,charge the already arrested suspects to court and ensure their speedy trials to conclusion.
That no single person has been convicted since these senseless killings commenced well over twenty years ago remains a huge concern; and this has quite evidently emboldened bloodthirsty criminals disguising under various togas to continue with the unrestrained attacks and resultant killings of innocent people including children and women.
The citizens of Plateau State deserve to know the fate of terrorists earlier arrested by the security agencies over similar attacks in the past.
We use this medium to further appeal to the Governor of Plateau State- His Excellency *Barr. Caleb Mutfwang to expeditiously launch the Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (PLASEMSAS) following the onboarding of Plateau State onto the national emergency medical response platform over three months ago.
We believe that a properly manned and well equipped Emergency Medical Response System will go a long way in reducing the deaths as well as morbidities associated with these attacks and also aid in providing care for injured security operatives and other first responders.
Needful to say, the Government needs to as a matter of urgent public importance, address the issue of chronic shortage of the requisite skilled health workforce in the State (particularly in the rural areas) to mitigate the deleterious consequences of these attacks.
While we use this opportunity to condole and identity with all health workers whose loved ones were directly or indirectly affected by these unwarranted attacks, we wish to profoundly appreciate all doctors,other healthcare workers and humanitarian agencies who opened their arms and the doors of their facilities widely and rendered selfless emergency care,and continue to render same to the victims dispersed across the displaced persons camps and in the various hospitals where the injured are receiving the needed medical attention.
We also wish to thank the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) of our dear association under the leadership of Dr Uche Ojinmah , the Forum of NMA State Chairmen,medical elders as well as other colleagues across the states of the federation and beyond for the magnanimous fraternal support received since the resurgence of this unrest which aided in the delivery of relief items and setting up of the camp clinics at the Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps.
We again pledge our unwavering commitment and alignment to the pragmatic and people oriented agenda of the Barr. Mutfwang-led Government,and salute highly the concerted efforts the State Government has put thus far.
NMA Plateau will not relent in contributing her quota towards ensuring efficient and effective healthcare service delivery and in promoting peaceful co-existence.
They also added that ” Our union of health professionals remain fully available to cater for the needs of the injured and displaced persons”.
” We wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Governor, Government and good people of Plateau State over these needless acts of human cruelty,and pray for swift recovery of the injured,as well as the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed as we look forward to an end to these needless carnage and waste of human lives.,The statement further reads.
