By Bashir Mohammed
Kano
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has pledged to render all the necessary assistance needed by the victims of last Friday’s Kano bomb blasts.
Making the pledge when he paid a visit to the hospitals in Kano, where victims of the blasts were hospitalised, the director-general, of the agency, Sani Sidi, said NEMA has been mandated by the presidency to assess the extent of damage inflicted on the victims, with a view to assisting them with the needed medical equipment.
Represented by the director, Search and Rescue in the agency, Air Commodore Charles Otegdebe, however stated that, NEMA had made adequate preparations to assist those who were injured in the blasts, adding that it was the responsibility of the agency to come to the aid of those affected by a disaster of this magnitude.
According to him, the situation in Kano was pathetic, as the number of those caught in the blasts was alarming, stressing that the agency was up and doing in responding to emergency situations.
He said “We are in Kano to condole with the people of the state over the unfortunate incident. Before we came, we saw the compelling need to come with all the medical equipment needed to assist the medical authorities in the state, where gaps are detected in the ability of the hospitals to meet the demands of the victims.”
He further revealed that the agency was in possession of consumable and drugs, which were most needed by the hospitals, and urged the medical authorities to do everything possible to attend to the victims in good time.
Also speaking, Kano state commissioner of health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the state government had taken steps to rescue the victims shortly after the blasts, stressing that the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital and the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Hospital were offering free medical treatment to the victims, and appreciated the effort of “Good Samaritans” for donating blood.
Yusuf, however, stated that the effort put in place by the NEMA was consistent with the expectation of the state government, saying NEMA should be commended for such a laudable feat.