Injuries WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

Injuries

Injuries are a leading cause of death, hospitalization, disability(ies) and socioeconomic losses in all countries of the world, more so in Low and middle-income countries like India.

Road Traffic Injuries, Falls, Burns, Drowning, Poisoning, Mechanical injuries in workplaces, Animal bites and Intentional injuries like Suicide, Deliberate Self Harm and Violence against children, women and elderly account for huge numbers of deaths and disabilities every year.

In India, an estimated million lives are lost every year due to an injury. For every death, nearly 30-40 persons are hospitalized for serious injuries. Nearly 100% of severe, half of moderately injured and 10-20 % of those with mild injuries have long-lasting disabilities.

The outcomes of injuries are several ranging from death to disabilities. An injury can impact physical, social, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of the affected individual and his/her family for short or long periods. The economic losses due to injuries in India are not known and are estimated to be around 5 % of GDP every year.

Global experience reveals that injuries are predictable and preventable. With the implementation of evidence-based and culture-specific countermeasures through specific and integrated policies and programmes at different levels, it is possible to reduce the burden of injuries, thus saving lives.

In the past, the centre has completed the situation analysis and the current burden of injuries in India and South East Asia.    

The CC has also supported ministries of Health in Indonesia, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, Republic of Iran, Sri Lanka and other countries with situation analysis assessing the burden of injuries, framework for injury prevention and strategic approaches for road safety and injury prevention.

1. Injuries in South-East Asia – Cause for Concern and Call for Action (Report available from WHO – SEARO)

2. Strategic approaches to injury prevention and control in South – East Asia ( Report available from WHO – SEARO)

3. Injuries in India – A National perspective 

4. Injury and Violence in India – Facts and Figure