Stakeholders at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos (NOHIL), in collaboration with the Shomolu Fire Service Unit, have called for heightened public awareness on burn prevention and fire safety as crucial measures to protect lives and property.
The campaign featured a four-kilometre awareness walk from NOHIL to the Shomolu Local Government Area, aimed at educating residents on how to prevent burn injuries and minimise fire risks, particularly at home and in workplaces.
Speaking at the event, Acting Medical Director of NOHIL, Dr Lawal Wakeel, explained that the initiative was part of the hospital’s yearly activities marking World Burns Awareness Week. He noted that thousands of Nigerians suffer burn injuries annually from preventable causes such as domestic accidents, industrial mishaps, and vehicular incidents.
“Community education remains the most effective tool to reduce burn injuries and their far-reaching consequences,” Wakeel said.
He urged residents to adopt safety habits such as supervising children while cooking, avoiding unattended candles, ensuring proper ventilation in the event of a gas leak, and refraining from storing petrol or other flammable substances at home.
“Prevention is safer and more affordable than treatment, which often entails prolonged recovery and financial strain,” he added.
Also addressing participants, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Head of NOHIL’s Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr Taiwo Osisanya, highlighted the global burden of burn injuries. He stressed that prevention should be prioritised because treatment is expensive, demanding, and often leaves survivors with permanent physical and emotional scars.
Sharing his experience, Chief Superintendent of the Shomolu Fire Service Unit, Olushodo Olutayo, recounted sustaining burn injuries while responding to a fire outbreak earlier this year.
He expressed gratitude for the care he received at NOHIL, describing his recovery as evidence of the importance of timely medical attention and continued advocacy for burn prevention.
