Annual toll of 12,000 deaths resulting from a surge in accidents: Minister

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka experiences approximately one million hospital admissions and 12,000 deaths annually due to various accidents, Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana disclosed.

This substantial figure underscores the critical nature and urgency of the issue, as emphasised by the Minister, addressing the International Conference on Injury Prevention at the Waters Edge.

The Minister the alarming statistics, noting that the accidents lead to an average of 1,000 deaths per month or nearly 35 deaths daily. Traffic accidents alone contribute to around 3,000 annual fatalities, while suffocation, drowning, falls, poisoning, electrocution, burns, and animal attacks collectively result in thousands more deaths, he noted.

Individuals aged between 15-44 are particularly vulnerable to these accidents, with accidents ranking among the leading causes of fatalities, Pathirana emphasised.

Recognising the gravity of this trend, the Health Minister pointed out that immediate attention should be paid and action taken, focusing on addressing the social impacts.

Thereby, preventive measures should be implemented and remedial actions should be taken, with a focus on enhancing the collaboration of various sectors involved in managing these issues, Dr. Pathirana stressed.

The Minister expressed his full commitment to implementing effective policy actions to address this crisis.