Not much progress despite scores of lives lost annually: Specialist

By PRANAVESH SIVAKUMAR

Colombo, June 30 (Daily Mirror) - The Multisectoral Strategic Action Plan on Injury Prevention and Management, a mechanism introduced in 2021 to minimise accidents, is yet to see tangible progress despite scores of lives being lost, a specialist said.

Dr. Samitha Sirithunga, the Head of Injury Prevention and Management, Ministry of Health, said all parties concerned are looking to meet around November this year for review.

The plan, a multisectoral strategy, concerning many quarters, including the transport board and health ministry, was devised, though no launch was seen during the intended period 2021-2025, owing to COVID and economic crises.

“Subsequently, all stakeholders agreed upon extending the period and hence was renewed to 2023-27 and launched in 2023. This was after a special permission was granted from the Secretary of Health to extend the period,” Dr. Sirithunga, also a Consultant Community Physician, said.

This action plan monitors multiple injuries, including road accidents, animal bites, drowning, and occupational hazards, among others.

Commenting on the statistics of injuries sustained and succumbed due to them, “It is a bit difficult to say since we do not have the exact data. However, the data is from big state hospitals. Such data and injury surveillance show the highest number of admissions due to falls (types of falls). This is the number one cause for admission in government hospitals.”

“Deaths, yes, number one is traffic accidents. On a rough estimate, 2,500 traffic accidents (intentional and unintentional) are recorded annually. This annual figure has been post-COVID. But, recently, we have noticed an increase in suicides also,” he added.