(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Deaths and injuries due to road accidents in Oman increased by 28 per cent in 2011 despite concerted efforts by ROP, government authorities and the private sector. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), a substantial percentage of deaths were those of children and youths.Data also shows that for every person killed in a crash, at least ten others were injured, resulting in disabilities and a high social and economic cost for the disabled and kin of victims.''In many countries including Oman, injury is the principal cause of death among those under the age of 45 and a leading cause of morbidity and permanent disability, as well as a major contributor to healthcare costs,'' a source from MoH said.In 2009, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said identified the phenomenon as the greatest obstacle in the nation's progress and called for all sectors to collaborate in finding solutions to it.MoH has also established the department of injury control, which collaborates with the government and private sectors to develop strategies to address the phenomenon. MoH, in association with the ROP, on Saturday began a five-day course on injury control at the ROP Traffic and Safety Institute in Seeb.The keynote speaker is Dr Louis Hugo Francescutti, a renowned educator and physician, as well as former director of the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research. He is the president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada and has played a major role in preventing injuries in Canada. Two more speakers will be addressing the audience.Participants include stakeholders from both, the government and private sectors who are expected to play a crucial role in identifying prevalent injury problems, determining obstacles in reducing the number of injuries and identifying high-risk groups. They will attempt to develop effective approaches to injury surveillance, set milestones for injury reduction and develop know-how in increasing public involvement in the field.Participants will look into the roles of education, engineering, enforcement and economic incentives in preventing injury while understanding the need to create a communication plan as part of an injury prevention campaign.They will be accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Canada, and will also learn about the role of key medical professionals, pre-hospital first aid and emergency medical services, as well as the importance of injury rehabilitation.
