The 11th National Accident Prevention Week will be observed from July 6 to July 10 with the aim of raising public awareness on accident prevention and reducing the loss of lives, injuries, and disabilities caused by accidents in Sri Lanka.
The inaugural ceremony is scheduled to be held today (July 6) at 11.00 a.m. at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Auditorium under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
A significant proportion of patients admitted to government hospitals in Sri Lanka require treatment due to accidents, with falls, road traffic accidents, workplace incidents, drowning, and home-related accidents being among the leading causes. The programme seeks to minimize the impact of accidents on the country's healthcare system, as well as its social and economic development.
Organized by the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media under the guidance of the National Committee for Prevention of Injuries (NCPI), the week will focus on a different theme each day:
- July 6 – Road Traffic Accident Prevention Day
- July 7 – Workplace Accident Prevention Day
- July 8 – Home and Elderly Care Facility Accident Prevention Day
- July 9 – Drowning Prevention Day
- July 10 – School, Preschool and Daycare Centre Accident Prevention Day
A range of public awareness programmes, risk identification activities, and practical initiatives to promote safer environments will be conducted across the island during the week. Short-, medium-, and long-term measures aimed at reducing accidents will also be implemented with the participation of government institutions, healthcare organizations, the education sector, security forces, and other relevant stakeholders.
Authorities have emphasized that accident prevention is a national responsibility and have called for active public participation in the programme.
