Update on road traffic crashes: progress in the Middle East.
Road traffic injuries comprise the major share of all injuries globally. Traffic injuries kill 1.2 million people annually and injure 40 times as many, leaving a subsequent number totally disabled. Globally we spend approximately US $500 billion annually. The Middle East encompasses West Asia and North Africa and is very diverse economically, culturally and socially. Prevention and management of road traffic crashes and injuries is difficult. Comparative data are not readily available and therefore developing unified policies is a mammoth task. Implementation of best practices is not uniformly advocated due to socioeconomic and cultural differences. Enforcement of endorsed legislation on road traffic safety is not uniform in the region. Professional staff to combat this pandemic are scarce and it is important that capacity building, knowledge sharing, and increased political will becomes a priority in the region. This paper discusses the problems encountered in the prevention and management of road traffic injuries from the site of injury to rehabilitation and social reintegration. The role of Oman and that of the Bone and Joint Decade in the United Nations on Global Road Safety and its update is highlighted.
Al-Kharusi
Wahid
W
Orthopaedics and Trauma, Khoula Hospital, PO Box 3007, Ruwi, 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. wahidk@omantel.net.om
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000401:mortality; D019985:Benchmarking; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D009313:National Health Programs; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D014480:United Nations; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*