The 10th National Injury Prevention Week officially commenced today, with the Ministry of Health revealing alarming statistics about the impact of accidents on Sri Lanka’s healthcare system and society.
According to health officials, between 2,500 to 3,000 people die annually after being admitted to hospitals due to emergency accidents. Out of the country’s estimated 145,000 annual deaths, 10,000 to 12,000 are caused by accidents—translating to over 1,000 deaths per month and at least 4 every three hours.
Speaking at a media briefing to launch the initiative, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa highlighted that approximately one in every seven Sri Lankans faces a serious accident requiring medical attention each year. He also pointed out that a large portion of emergency-related deaths—around 7,500 to 8,000—occur before victims are even brought to hospitals.
The minister further noted that the majority of accident victims belong to the productive age group of 15 to 44 years, posing a serious challenge to national development, economic growth, and overall productivity.
Each day of the Injury Prevention Week will focus on a specific theme:
* July 7 – Road accident prevention
* July 8 – Workplace safety
* July 9 – Household and elderly accident prevention
* July 10 – Drowning prevention
* July 11 – School and child safety
Dr. Jayatissa also stated that a significant share of the national health budget is spent on treating accident victims and emphasized the need for short-, medium-, and long-term measures to reduce preventable injuries. (Newswire)
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