New Delhi: Spine care experts and 14 national spine care societies from across the country will come together to observe National Injury Prevention Week from September 1 to 7 by organising various events, including outdoor activities, cultural programmes, and panel discussions.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in its message for Injury Prevention Week, an injury-free India will not only reduce the healthcare burden but also improve citizens’ overall quality of life.
“The goal of India’s Injury Prevention Week is to create an injury-free India.” Injury Prevention Week is now in its third year, organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Directorate General of Health Services. “I am pleased that 14 professional, non-medical, and consumer organisations have joined forces with the Directorate to mark this occasion,” said Prof. (Dr.) Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Addressing a media roundtable here on Friday, Dr. Harvinder Singh Chhabra, Chief of Spine and Rehabilitation Centre at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Chairman Spine Wellness & Care Foundation, President Spinal Cord Society, said Healthcare costs are already increasing, so injury prevention is a crucial need.
Eight national and seven international societies brainstormed on various prevention measures and came to a consensus on recommendations that were presented to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) during the 2018 Injury Prevention Workshop. We believe the other overarching recommendation, having a national injury prevention programme, has also been considered favourably, he added.
“In this year’s Injury Prevention Week, we would like to send a message about how preventing injuries can benefit the economy as well as reduce the burden on healthcare, in addition to improving people’s quality of life,” Dr. Chabra said.
Dr. Harvinder Singh Chhabra emphasized that preventing injuries can benefit the economy, reduce healthcare costs, and improve quality of life and promoting healthy lifestyles.
These 14 national spine societies are also working together to promote World Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Day, which will be held on September 5 during Injury Prevention Week. A Wheelchair Sports and Cultural Programme, which will take place in physical mode at Noida Stadium, Sector 21, on September 3, will be a major highlight of the programme commemorating SCI Day.
The Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute is sponsoring the event. As part of an international campaign to raise awareness about spinal cord injury and its prevention, the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) observes 5 September as World SCI Day. In India, the Spinal Cord Society, which is affiliated with ISCoS, is leading the campaign.
It is important to note that road crashes and falls are the leading causes of injury in India, and the country accounts for approximately 10% of road crash fatalities worldwide, with a large number of youths aged 18 to 35 being killed.
According to a report, 26,896 adults died in the country in 2017 because of not wearing seat belts while driving. According to the data, head injuries are the leading cause of death for children, teenagers, and young adults. According to another survey, an estimated one million people die and 20 million are hospitalised in India each year because of injuries caused by car accidents, falls, and other causes.
