THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has donated assorted medical equipment to Ndola Teaching Hospital as part of commemorating the 2020 World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims.

And the agency says it is projecting a reduction in the number of road traffic accidents by end of 2020 due to the countrywide law enforcement operation which it will be embarking on today.

Speaking when he made the donation which included items like implant plates, wheel chairs, and crutches, in Ndola, Sunday, RTSA chief executive officer Gladwell Banda said the gift was aimed at reducing the disability levels among road accident victims.

“As we commemorate this solemn occasion and remember our beloved ones that have departed from us, as a result of road traffic accidents, it is imperative that as critical stakeholders in promoting road safety, we rekindle our resolve to fight the scourge of road traffic accidents fatalities and injuries. We note with gratification the role that the health sector plays in post-crash response, focusing on preventing deaths and disability as a result of road traffic accidents by limiting the physical, psychological and social impact,” Banda said.

Banda said the agency would continue supporting the Ministry of Health in providing timely emergency and primary health care to road accident victims.

“As RTSA, we shall continue supporting the Ministry of Health in providing timely emergency and primary health care to road accident victims. It is our hope that this donation of implant plates, wheelchairs and crutches will help in the rehabilitation process of road traffic accident victims to minimize the physical and psychological trauma. Allow me to commend and appreciate the government’s commitment towards promoting post-crash care. This has been evident through the ambitious post-crash project under the Ministry of Health aimed at constructing trauma centers along the accident prone stretches on highways in order to ensure that the facilities offer appropriate post-crash care to road accident victims,” he said.

And Banda said the agency was projecting a reduction in the number of road accidents by end of 2020 as compared to 2019.

“The agency is in the process of amending the Road Traffic Act N0.11 of 2002 to make it more responsive to accident investigations and enhance civil and criminal justice in relation to road safety. RTSA will continue enforcing the law in a bid to reduce road traffic accidents in the country. The country’s road safety outlook is bright and we have projected a reduction of road traffic accidents and fatalities by the end of 2020 as compared to the year 2019. In order to maintain the downward trend of accident statistics and fatalities, let me take this opportunity to announce that the agency will tomorrow (today) Monday 16th November 2020 commence the countrywide traffic law enforcement operations as a build-up to the 2020 festive season road safety interventions,” said Banda.

And Ndola Teaching Hospital senior medical superintendent Dr Joseph Musowoya thanked RTSA for the donation adding that it would go a long way in minimizing the physical and psychological trauma among accident victims.

The 2020 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic VICTIMS was commemorated under the theme: “Remember.Support.Care.”