The Ministry of Health has launched the 11th National Accident Prevention Week, with a series of nationwide programmes aimed at promoting public awareness and reducing accident-related injuries and deaths.
The awareness campaign, which runs from today until the 10th of this month, has been organised in response to the thousands of fatalities and injuries caused by accidents each year, many of which result in long-term disabilities.
The official inauguration was held this morning at the Ministry of Health and Mass Media under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.
According to the Ministry, emergency accident cases continue to account for a significant share of hospital admissions, with road traffic accidents, workplace incidents, drowning, and accidents in homes identified as the leading causes.
The programme, organised by the Non-Communicable Disease Unit under the guidance of the National Advisory Committee on Accident Prevention, will highlight a different accident prevention theme each day.
Today’s activities are dedicated to road safety, while workplace accident prevention will be the focus tomorrow. The following day has been designated to promote the prevention of home-related accidents and injuries involving older persons.
The Ministry said the week-long campaign will include public awareness programmes, identification of accident-prone locations, initiatives to create safer environments, and the implementation of short-, medium-, and long-term measures to strengthen accident prevention efforts across the country.
