Survivors of Road Crashes to Benefit From $350,000 Donation

Survivors of road crashes are to benefit from a donation of $350,000 given to the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) by the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica (PSJ).

The NRSC was the sole beneficiary of the PSJ’s annual 5K Run/Walk, which took place on Sunday, September 21.

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) was among the many sponsors of the event.

Accepting the donation at the PSJ’s Induction and Awards Ceremony on November 18, at the Hotel Four Seasons, Executive Director of the NRSC, Paula Fletcher, highlighted the importance of partners in the activities of the council.

She explained that there is very little that the NRSC can do without partners, so the organization is very pleased to have been considered for the donation.

“When we were invited by PSJ to submit a proposal for the donation, it was very timely as we were making plans for the observance of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims,” she said.

The Executive Director added that under this observance programme, the focus is on the survivors and their families.

“To a great extent we tend to focus on the statistics and those who have died, but there are many survivors who have been incapacitated and others who live with debilitating illnesses, which are secondary causes of crashes,” she pointed out.

“It is really tremendous, because much of it is unknown to the public. For example, you can have a situation where a survivor gets depressed and commits suicide because he has lost his closest cousin in a crash,” the Executive Director said, adding that consideration too, must be given to the caregivers.

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is held on the third Sunday in November each year. It is a day to remember those who died or were injured from road crashes and the plight of their loved ones who must cope with the consequences of their deaths or injuries.

Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system, play a major role in promoting the day.