The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State chapter, has called on the government to enact legislation prohibiting the siting of gas plants and outlets within residential areas, citing the alarming rise in burn-related injuries and deaths.
Chairman of the association, Dr. Sunday Okafor, made the appeal during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NMA in Enugu, where he described gas-related burns as one of the most dangerous and increasingly prevalent domestic accidents in recent years, largely due to the affordability and widespread use of cooking gas.
“There is an urgent need for a law that will stop the proliferation of gas outlets in residential neighbourhoods, as well as strict enforcement of such legislation,” Okafor said. “This is necessary to safeguard lives and reduce the number of burn cases being recorded.”
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Changing Burns Epidemiology with the Current Economic Realities”, Okafor said the topic was timely, given the increase in gas explosions and burn cases. He emphasized the importance of implementing the recommendations from the discourse to create better public awareness and influence policy decisions.
He acknowledged that the past year had been “positively eventful” for the association despite several challenges, noting that the NMA had worked closely with the state government and other partners to address pressing issues in the health sector.
However, he stressed that tackling systemic problems such as poor healthcare financing, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, and the growing trend of medical brain drain would require innovative approaches and unwavering commitment.
“The remuneration of physicians in Nigeria has become a critical issue,” he said. “With reference to past Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), we can prevent unnecessary friction and help stem the exodus of medical professionals from the country.”
Delivering a lecture at the event, Professor Ifeanyi Onah, a plastic surgeon at the National Orthopedic Hospital (NOH), Enugu, painted a grim picture of the growing incidence of burn injuries in the country.
He stated that 92 percent of burns occur within homes and attributed the trend to poverty, ignorance, and greed.
Speaking on the topic, “Changing Burn Epidemiology with Economic Challenges,” Onah said that although most burns are not life-threatening, they cause immense pain, long-term complications, and psychological trauma for patients and their families.
He revealed that from 2019 to 2024, the National Orthopedic Hospital recorded 663 burn admissions, with 367 males and 296 females, ranging from infants just six weeks old to elderly patients aged 92.
“These figures reflect just one institution,” Onah noted. “There are also significant burn cases at other tertiary hospitals like the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane.”
He urged the government to regulate the siting of gas plants near residential areas, warning that without clear policies and effective enforcement, burn injuries will continue to rise, placing additional strain on the nation’s already fragile healthcare system.
