The 11th National Accident Prevention Week commenced today and will continue until July 10, featuring a series of awareness programmes aimed at reducing preventable injuries and deaths, Community Medicine Specialist Dr. Samitha Sirithunga of the Ministry of Health's Non-Communicable Diseases Unit said.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Department of Government Information on July 6, Dr. Sirithunga highlighted that accidents remain one of Sri Lanka’s major public health concerns. He noted that approximately 1.35 million people are admitted to government hospitals annually due to accidents, while between 8,000 and 10,000 deaths are reported each year.
Road traffic accidents account for a significant share of these incidents, alongside drownings, falls, animal attacks and bites, poisoning, assaults, suicides, and electrocution. More than 50 percent of accident-related hospital admissions occur in homes and surrounding environments.
Dr. Sirithunga emphasized that accidents among economically productive age groups have a significant impact on both the country's economy and development.
As part of National Accident Prevention Week, daily awareness activities will focus on road safety (July 6), occupational health and safety (July 7), home and elderly safety (July 8), drowning prevention (July 9), and child safety (July 10), with programmes planned at child care centres, preschools, and schools across the country.
