Delta Assembly Passes Law for Compulsory Treatment, Care of Gunshot Victims

A bill for a law to provide for Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots in Delta State has been read for the third time and passed on the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly.

The sixteen sections Bill has the Chairman, House Committee on Rules, Business and Judicial Matters and Member Representing Ughelli North One Constituency, Hon Charles Oniyere as the lead sponsor.

The Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots bill is to make it mandatory for hospitals in Delta State to accept for immediate attention with or without police clearance, any person with a gunshot wound or deep cut injury arising from violent activities.

The private member bill with other fifteen lawmakers as co-sponsors, had been on the table for legislative processing and procedures since September last year.

The third reading and subsequent passage followed a motion to that effect by the House Majority Leader, Hon Ferguson Onwo at Wednesday’s plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Ochor Christopher Ochor and adopted.

The passage of the bill excited the Deputy Speaker, Ochor Ochor who applauded the lawmakers for their overwhelming support in the passage of the Bill.

Ochor explained that the Bill has solved a puzzle that has bedevilled society for a long time, saying that people have lost their loved ones to avoidable deaths due to the demand for police report by hospitals before giving treatment to gunshot victims.

He stated that the Bill has placed a duty on Hospitals and other health service providers to administer treatment to gunshot victims irrespective of the circumstances of the case, stressing that the development was a great relief and a victory for democracy.

The Deputy Speaker expressed gratitude to the sponsors of this Bill and to all that contributed to its successful passage.

The lead sponsor of the Bill and member representing Ughelli North One Constituency, Hon Charles Oniyere said the passage of the Bill was aptly going by the plights of gunshot victims in the hands of the police and hospital staff.

Oniyere pointed out that the proposed law would ensure that victims of gunshot wounds are not subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment or torture by any person or authorities including police or security agencies.

Expressing gratitude to his colleagues for helping to ensure the passage of the bill, Oniyere explained that proper care of gunshot victims does not in any way stop proper police investigations.