Why I sponsored bill on treatment of gunshot victims, by Senator

SENATOR Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central) has defended her bill
authorising medical treatment for gunshot victims.

Mrs. Sunmonu, in a November 2016 Bill, called for authorisation
of treatment of such victims in medical institutions.

Before now, such victims were expected to present a police
report before accessing medical treatment.

The restriction was aimed at preventing armed robbers, who
sustain gunshot wounds from accessing medical treatment.

But this became counter-productive as it led to the death of
many innocent Nigerians who were robbed on highways or in their
homes.

The Senate deliberated on the vexed issue and eventually
directed police to allow such victims to be treated before a report
is ready.

With the successful passage of the bill, victims are now allowed
to receive medical treatment before a police report clearing them
of any offence.

In an April 8 statement, the Oyo State Police Command directed
hospitals to treat victims of gunshot wounds before processing a
police report.

The development has since saved many lives.

Speaking with our reporter at the weekend, Mrs. Sunmonu argued
that many gunshot victims often die since hospitals demand police
reports before treating them.

She said if they are treated immediately and their lives are
saved, the police may be able to interrogate them and extract more
information from them about criminal cartels.

The former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly added that
it was not only criminals, who were not being treated but that
innocent people, who had been the victims of crime, had also died
because they were not treated.

The senator called for a look at the bigger picture, arguing
that failure to treat such persons was equivalent to a deprivation
of the right to life – a constitutionally enshrined right that can
only be removed in execution of a judgment of a superior court.

She called for training of police officers and medical workers
to deal with victims and those who help in a non-accusatory
manner.

Mrs. Sunmonu said members of the public were often afraid to
help victims for fear of being treated like suspects and saddled
with responsibility of proving their own innocence just because
they rendered help.

She said there was a need to build public confidence in the
system.

The lawmaker expressed satisfaction with the police directive,
saying she was happy to sponsor a bill that saves lives of many
innocent citizens.

Nation

SENATOR Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central) has defended her bill
authorising medical treatment for gunshot victims.

Mrs. Sunmonu, in a November 2016 Bill, called for authorisation
of treatment of such victims in medical institutions.

Before now, such victims were expected to present a police
report before accessing medical treatment.

The restriction was aimed at preventing armed robbers, who
sustain gunshot wounds from accessing medical treatment.

But this became counter-productive as it led to the death of
many innocent Nigerians who were robbed on highways or in their
homes.

The Senate deliberated on the vexed issue and eventually
directed police to allow such victims to be treated before a report
is ready.

With the successful passage of the bill, victims are now allowed
to receive medical treatment before a police report clearing them
of any offence.

In an April 8 statement, the Oyo State Police Command directed
hospitals to treat victims of gunshot wounds before processing a
police report.

The development has since saved many lives.

Speaking with our reporter at the weekend, Mrs. Sunmonu argued
that many gunshot victims often die since hospitals demand police
reports before treating them.

She said if they are treated immediately and their lives are
saved, the police may be able to interrogate them and extract more
information from them about criminal cartels.

The former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly added that
it was not only criminals, who were not being treated but that
innocent people, who had been the victims of crime, had also died
because they were not treated.

The senator called for a look at the bigger picture, arguing
that failure to treat such persons was equivalent to a deprivation
of the right to life – a constitutionally enshrined right that can
only be removed in execution of a judgment of a superior court.

She called for training of police officers and medical workers
to deal with victims and those who help in a non-accusatory
manner.

Mrs. Sunmonu said members of the public were often afraid to
help victims for fear of being treated like suspects and saddled
with responsibility of proving their own innocence just because
they rendered help.

She said there was a need to build public confidence in the
system.

The lawmaker expressed satisfaction with the police directive,
saying she was happy to sponsor a bill that saves lives of many
innocent citizens.

Nation