By Surihe Gaomas
WINDHOEK
With over N$4 million and more than 77 sponsors so far, the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund is ready to ensure road safety through its national campaign Xupifa Eemwenyo.
Contributions have been flowing in fast as companies and institutions have pledged support to save lives and minimise road accidents this festive season.
The N$4 million is much higher than last year’s contribution of just over N$2 million for the Xupifa Eemwenyo Road Safety campaign.
Speaking to New Era yesterday, Manager of Corporate Affairs of the MVA Fund Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said while preparations are ongoing, MVA is ready to meet its national objective.
“Everything is well on track and we are ready,” said Martins-Hausiku, adding that the recently acquired laser speed equipment from mining company Extract Resources will be handed over to the Namibian Police for use at strategic roadblocks.
The laser speed equipment is valued at over N$53 000.
Meanwhile, some members of the public have asked whether the MVA could provide first aid kits to motorists. During some of the road accidents, the sight of curious onlookers crowding the accident scene is conspicuous while nobody tries to help those injured pending the arrival of an ambulance or emergency vehicles.
Namibians do not appear to know much about helping others at accident scenes, even if they are first on the spot. This is mainly due to fact that they do not have first aid training or do not carry medical kits in their vehicles.
Asked whether the MVA Fund would consider providing first aid kits to the public, Martins-Hausiku said “Yes we have first aid kits for the public, which we run as a competition in the local media. So there are first aid kits up for grabs.”
She said the issue of requiring all drivers to carry a first aid kit is in the hands of law enforcement authorities and not the MVA Fund.
However, on its part, the fund has provided first aid training and fire extinguishers to police officers and their own staff members.
“All the fund vehicles have fire extinguishers, torches and first aid kits,” she added.
Plans are also in the pipeline to conduct such training for community members living in high accident areas like in the north, Karibib area, Otjozondjupa Region and the south, as well as other places where accidents mostly occur.
Martins-Hausiku concluded that the MVA will strive to avoid a repeat of last year’s road accidents that claimed lives during this year’s Xupifa Eemwenyo campaign.
Such carnage can be minimised or avoided completely, as long as drivers adhere to traffic rules and regulations during the holidays.