The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna Zone, has successfully organised its 2024 two-day medical outreach as part of its corporate social responsibility.

It was organised in collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo foundation, National Ear Centre, Sight Savers Nigeria and the State Ministry of Health.

The theme of the medical outreach was: “Health Is Wealth: FRSC Cares’.

In his welcome address, the zonal commanding officer zone RS1 Kaduna, ACM Ahmed Umar, said it was a yearly initiative of the command aimed at raising awareness and mitigating the menace of Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).

Furthermore, he stated that the objective of the medical outreach was in line with the 2024 FRSC Ember Months theme: ‘Speak up Against Dangerous Driving; Crashes Kill More Passengers Than Drivers’.

According to Mr Umar, the event seeks to raise awareness on the right of passengers to speak up against dangerous driving by some errant drivers who have an insatiable desire to drive dangerously.

He said, *When they speak up the possibility of safer mobility into the new year 2025 is assured.

“The risk factors in RTCs include speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and other substances, riding motorcycle without crash helmets, seat belt use violation and distracted driving.

“All these are observable factors and passengers are strongly encouraged to speak out against reckless driving, as RTCs kill more passengers than drivers.

“In Kaduna Zone and Kaduna state, the RTC statistics are on the downward trends, which align with the WHO Global Status Report 2023.

“However the menace of speeding by all categories of vehicles and mixed overloading of goods and with passengers or animals with passengers remains our main disturbing challenge.”

Mr Umar said that to curtail the menace, the command had gotten improved support and motivation from the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed.

He announced plans to increase FRSC visibility in terms of deployment of personnel and logistics towards ensuring safe mobility into the year 2025.

Mr Umar said,”A total of 868 Officers, 2996 Marshals of FRSC personnel are to be deployed.

“Over 102 patrol vehicles with associated authority devices are to be deployed including ambulances, tow trucks and power bikes across the four states; Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa.

“The outreach is to test participants on various medical conditions such as blood pressure, hearing and sight impairment, malaria, asthma, as well as cataract and provide remedies to these medical conditions.”

Furthermore, he appreciated the foundation for donating 100 pieces of hearing aids and other stakeholders for the massive support received in ensuring the huge success of the programme.

(NAN)