National Level Coordination Meeting on
Road Traffic Accident: A Neglected Public Health Crisis
- Background
Road traffic accident is a serious global public health problem. Every year 1.3 million people are killed and 50 million people have been injured due to road accidents around the world. If current trends continue, road crashes are predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. Studies reviled that the road traffic accidents have been steeply increasing in developing countries whereas developed countries have made some progress on this.
Nepal is a landlocked country with its diverse nature in terms of its topography, ethnicity, social and cultural practices. Nepal literally does not have railway transportation. Therefore, road system remains the major transportation means that links different parts of the country. Geographically, only about 20% of the country is plain and rest of the 80% is covered by mountains, high mountains and Himalayas. The road network in Nepal is around 20264 KM which comprises with 4718 KM highways, 6117 KM feeder roads, 2473 KM urban roads and 6956 KM district roads. Most of the roads particularly the highways are narrow, only two lanes, there is no road lamps and signals. Furthermore, the high way is shared by pedestrians, school children, local vehicles and even domestic animals. There are more than one million vehicles in the country, which is relatively too many compared to the road length. Majority of the vehicles are motor bikes (73%) followed by 12 % car, jeep and Vans, 3 % minibus and buses, and 4 % transport vehicles (DOR,2011).
Studies indicatedthat 9000 people have been died, almost 20,000 were seriously injured and 44615 slightly injured in 54000 traffic crashes in the past 10 years. The number of road fatalities from 2002 to 2005 was decreasing in comparison to 2001 however since 2006 this trend has reversed and it has become a serious problem. In an average the RTA related fatality ratio is around 7. The number of road fatalities from 2002 to 2005 was decreasing in trend compared to that of 2001, however since 2006 this trend has reversed and it is in increasing trend. The highest number of casualties in road accident is pedestrians followed by motorcycle riders. Major accidents of public buses causes mass casualty that cost death and injury to many people. Life shaving of the severely injured person remains a major issue in RTA. In country like Nepal, there is no prompt response team and health facility in the high ways to rescue the injured. Mostly the drivers, helpers and passengers of preceding or following vehicles are the first responders or rescuers who are lay people. Proper First Aid management at the site of accident can prevent further injury and death of severely injured. Identification and triage of injured people at the site and proper way of evacuation and timely transportation of the injured is the key point to save lives. The situation thus, demands urgent response to prevent RTA related deaths and injuries (DOR, 2011).
Given the fact, the Integrated Community Development Movement Nepal has planned to implement a research project on road traffic accident for the period of 18 months. The overarching goal of this project is to contribute to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with road traffic accidents in Nepal. The study project will be supported by Grand Challenges Canada as the Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) is dedicated to supporting bold ideas with big impact in global healthfor improving lives of most vulnerable population. TheGCC CEO Peter Singer has said that Canada’s commitment to bold ideas with big impact is captured in each of these 102 peer-reviewed projected.
- Objective:
The following are objectives of the national coordination meeting:
- To share county context with regard to road traffic accidents possible interventions to prevent RTA and save lives of injured
- To get better understanding about agencies being involved in implementing program around road traffic accident and share activities being planned by Integrated Community Development Movement Nepal on road traffic accident.
- Modality
The national level coordination meeting will be conducted by making technical presentations from Emergency Hospitals and Traffic Police Office highlighting major issues/problem, trend and facility and major gaps.The MOHA will give update on policy regarding the RTA and gaps and needs to be addressed at policy level.
A presentation will be made from the ICODEMON on planned study project and specific activities. Finally a plenary discussion will focus on the way forward in addressing the existing gaps and challenges regarding RTA.
- Participants
There will be around 30 participants attending this meeting. The workshop intends to bring together multiple stakeholders working at different levels on Road Safety in Nepal. This includes Government Agencies,UN Agencies, Red Cross Movements, Donors and I/NGOs, civil societies organizations, media.
- Date, venue and duration of the meeting
A half day meeting will be organized on 14 May 2013 at Hotel Orchid, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu from 3 to 6 PM. The meeting will be followed by a dinner.
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