In an effort to reduce increasing number of road accidents affecting boda-boda operators and passengers, International Medical Centre has joined hands with Uganda Police Force to address the increasing causes of road accidents.
The campaign was launch by Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Commander SSP. Norman Musinga and Dr. Ian Clarke, Chairman Board of Directors at International Medical Group at IMC Kitgum house and thereafter a road safety sensitization session with the boda-boda operators was conducted.
According to the Ministry of works and transport report published in 2017, at least 10 people die in road accidents everyday with boda-boda riders named as the leading causes and most of them being head on collusion. Statistics from Department of Traffic Police also indicates that more than 24,352 motorcyclists, passengers and pedestrians were seriously injured in boda-boda accidents between 2015 and 2018 with Kampala topping the list of over 16,000 casualties.
Mr. Joel Oroni, the General Manager International Medical Centre says the health sector has always been at the end of the road safety channel, treating causalities from road accidents. Currently, the Public Health System is overwhelmed with road traffic crashes which now is listed among the 10 top leading causes of hospital deaths in the country.
“It is this alarming rates of motorists involvement in accidents that drove our desire to carry out a road safety campaign with the aim of sensitizing boda-boda operators across all IMC Clinic stages with safer road usage tips and also provide them with road safety gears (Helmets and reflector jackets) to use while on the road” Mr. Oroni urged.
Adding that, the campaign will take place for a period of three months and we have started engagement with IMC Kitgum House bodabodas and we hope to do the same across throughout the country, He Said.
SSP. Norman Musinga, Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Commander said that “Boda-boda crashes account for the highest number of victims of road carnage. Motorcycle fatalities between 2011 and 2016 doubled from 570 to 1,170 deaths, representing a 51.3% increase in the five-year period” He explained.
“Road carnage does not affect riders and passengers but also pedestrians. Today, Pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users, constituting 40% of the victims” said Mr. Kasiima. Adding that in 2016, 1354 pedestrians lost their lives as they were knocked down on their way to school, work, and market among other places, He said.
Traffic gaps such as poor/damaged and narrow road, congestion in the city and limited training by drivers, and reckless driving among others need to be addressed. This would greatly reduce number of fatalities, loss of property and the public health burden associated with traffic injuries. The WHO Global Status Reporton Road Safety placed Uganda among the 20 worst performing countries in the world with a fatality rate at 27.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.
