‘National Injury Prevention Week’ to commence tomorrow

The 11th ‘National Injury Prevention Week’ is scheduled to commence tomorrow (06) with the aim of raising public awareness on accident prevention, as thousands of Sri Lankans lose their lives and hundreds of thousands more suffer injuries or disabilities due to accidents annually.The programme, organized by the Ministry of Health, will run until July 10, 2026. According to the Health Ministry, a significant proportion of patients admitted to state hospitals receive treatment for injuries caused by accidents, with falls, road accidents, workplace incidents, drowning, and home-related accidents among the leading causes. The initiative seeks to reduce the impact of accidents on the country's healthcare system, as well as its social and economic development.The inaugural ceremony will be held tomorrow at the Ministry of Health premises under the patronage of the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa.The programme is organized by the Ministry's Non-Communicable Diseases Unit under the guidance of the Injury Prevention & Control Unit, with each day dedicated to a specific accident prevention theme.The themes are as follows:July 6 – Road Accident Prevention DayJuly 7 – Workplace Accident Prevention DayJuly 8 – Home and Elderly Care Facility Accident Prevention DayJuly 9 – Drowning Prevention DayJuly 10 – School, Preschool and Daycare Centre Accident Prevention DayThroughout the week, the Health Ministry will conduct public awareness campaigns, identify accident-prone locations, implement practical initiatives to promote safer environments and introduce short-, medium-, and long-term measures to reduce accidents across the country.The programme will be carried out with the joint participation of government institutions, health authorities, the education sector, security forces, and other relevant stakeholders.