IT is a cause of worrying that in our country, road accidents claim lives almost every single day.
Many others are left permanently disabled, forced to carry the scars of these accidents for the rest of their lives.
A newspaper report published yesterday reveals that 24 trauma centres, constructed at a significant cost along major highways to save the lives of those injured in accidents, now lie non-functional, a fact that highlights the dire state of the country’s healthcare sector.
Citing the ‘Bangladesh Health and Accident Survey 2022-23’, the report indicates that approximately 98,000 people die in the country each year due to accidents and injuries.
The four leading causes of these deaths are road accidents, suicide, drowning, and burn.
On average, 211 people die every day due to these four causes. Road accidents alone claim 24,333 lives annually, an average of 66 deaths per day.
Experts believe that every moment is critical when a person is seriously injured in a road accident.
The risk of death increases if immediate medical attention is not provided in cases involving severe bleeding, head injuries, or respiratory complications.
Given this reality, an initiative was launched to construct 24 trauma centres along the country’s major highways.
According to the health department, initiatives were taken to establish 10 trauma centers in the 2004-05 fiscal year, followed by another 14 in 2010.
However, most of these centres remained non-functional for a long time after their construction.
Naturally, the question arises: why are ordinary people unable to access services at medical centres built at the cost of millions?
Meanwhile, World Trauma Day was observed on Saturday.
The day is marked to highlight the importance of saving the lives of those who have suffered accidents or injuries, and of ensuring prompt medical treatment and rehabilitation.
In the context of a country like ours, such a day holds significant importance.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shariful Alam, Country Coordinator at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, has stated that pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users.
The core philosophy of the globally recognized ‘Safe System Approach’ is that even if people make mistakes, those errors should not result in death or serious injury.
Therefore, the safety of pedestrians must be given the highest priority in road design, infrastructure, and management.
The causes of road accidents in our country are well known, yet no effective measures are being taken to address them.
This situation cannot continue. We urge the current government to ensure that no more lives are lost on our roads and highways.