Road Accident: Group Partners FRSC On Sensitisation Campaign In Osun

In response to the tragic death that befell a student of University of Osun State in a road traffic crash at Ife-Ibadan Expressway, the Value Orientation for Community Enhancement (VARCE), in collaboration with nurses from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and public health interns from Osun State University (UniOsun), have organized a life-saving sensitization campaign for Osun Community residents.

The programme which aimed majorly at the commercial drivers in Osogbo, Osun State emphasized the need for commercial drivers to prioritize safe driving orientation and abstinence from alcoholic mannerism while on duty in order to ensure zero accident on the highway most especially prevalent loss of lives.

At the one-day Community health sensitization not less over 200 Commercial Drivers and members of the society were sensitized and tested on HIV/AIDS and Alcohol integrity. The programme took place at two motor parks in Osogbo, State Capital, namely; Old Garage and Ajegunle Motor parks.

Speaking with the newsmen on behalf of the Executive Director, Mr.Ademola Adebisi, the Project Manager Mrs. Damilola Arowolo described the initiative as a heartfelt tribute and a call to action for all stakeholders concerned.

A worrisome situation which she said to have claimed many lives with brighter future, a perfect example was the case of UniOsun Students who lost lives to the careless driver who was reported to have lost control of himself while driving.

“The reason for the programme at this time is simple, we just want to the tame tide of prevalent accident on our highways especially incessant loss of lives by the careless drivers who mostly operate under the influence of Alcohol, A perfect example of this was the case of UniOsun Students who lost lives to the careless driver who was reported to have lost control of himself while driving and this is one out many, for us it is great concern ” she said.

She noted further that the programme would not be one off show as the Organization hoped to leverage on the goodwill of other relevant stakeholders to ensure that State lived a grief-free society, added that the programme would still cascade to the motorcyclists so as to ensure cycle of knowledge.

“It is not going to end here as we look forward to extending this initiative to the motorcyclists across the parks in the state through collaborative spirit of other relevant stakeholders so that we can be sure that this cycle of knowledge transfer is a complete one,” She concluded.

Also speaking, a commercial driver and one of the beneficiaries of the Community Health and a life-saving sensitization, Kazeem Yinusa, commended the VARCE, Nigeria for its commitment and passion to the service to humanity saying that the health checks were long overdue.

“This is what we need at this time—a reminder that life is precious and you can trust our unalloyed support as a Union”, he said

Garba Mistura, a 300-level Community Health student from UniOsun, called the initiative both “a tribute and a solution,” emphasizing that peer-led interventions can create lasting change in the community.