Growing concern over road accidents
Monday, April 16, 2007
A GROWING percentage of orthopaedic problems is caused by injuries sustained in road accidents, said Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman, Minister of Health.
In his address at the First National Orthopaedic Symposium at The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday, he said research indicates "the sum of all the orthopaedic problems constitutes the single largest cause of inpatient morbidity, and fourth leading cause of outpatient morbidity in Brunei".
The conference witnessed the convergence of local and international medical professionals to exchange ideas and update knowledge in offering better quality care to patients.
He added that about 30 to 70 per cent of orthopaedic beds in developing countries are occupied by people injured in road accidents. "There is a hidden epidemic on the world's roadways".
Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi said, "Musculo-skeletal conditions are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disability, affecting hundreds of millions of people across the world." About 1.2 million people are killed worldwide in road crashes each year, and as many as 50 million are injured, he added.
"As a result of the growing concern about road traffic accidents, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had devoted the World Health Day 2004 to road safety. Its theme "Road Safety is No Accident" is very pertinent to us as a nation, given the recent upsurge in road accidents over the years", said the minister before declaring the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 was established with the aim to improve the health-related quality of life for people with musculo-skeletal disorders.
According to Royal Brunei Police Force reports, more than 2,700 road accidents occur every year in which numerous lives are lost. Statistics show that from January to March this year, 64 serious injuries were recorded. It is significant to note that about one-fourth of such accidents occur on the national highway. The staggering accident rate is largely attributable to road user behaviour or conditions of the vehicles. Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi predicted that the situation may worsen due to the large number of inexperienced drivers expected on the roads over the next decade.
The Health Minister emphasised that prevention is their primary strategy in addressing road safety. He said it was of utmost importance for multi-sectoral collaboration to combat this so-called epidemic.
He said, "The Road Safety Council, private sector, NGOs and community groups can all become stronger advocates for road safety."
During his speech, the minister announced that another major cause of rising morbidity and mortality in Brunei was diabetes. "Diabetes is the third commonest cause of death in Brunei". He relates this to figures that reveals about 10 per cent of all orthopaedic surgeries are due to diabetes-related complications. Touching upon the increasing incidence of obesity among children, he presented a study conducted by the National Institute of Health USA published in the medical journal Pediatrics June 2006 issue, which showed that children and adolescents, who are overweight are more likely than their normal weight counterparts to suffer bone fractures and have joint and muscle pains.
"Efforts should be made to encourage health-care providers' recognition of the orthopaedic complications of excess weight so that interventions can be initiated," he said.
He added that among Brunei's sizeable ageing population, "osteoarthritis and osteoporosis were orthopaedic problems with significant impact on the quality of life ... Joint replacement surgeries to offer pain relief are now routinely done at Ripas Hospital".
"Challenges before us are enormous", he said, adding efforts will ultimately improve the availability and use of Brunei's emergency care services at all levels of health care.
The Brunei Times
In his address at the First National Orthopaedic Symposium at The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday, he said research indicates "the sum of all the orthopaedic problems constitutes the single largest cause of inpatient morbidity, and fourth leading cause of outpatient morbidity in Brunei".
The conference witnessed the convergence of local and international medical professionals to exchange ideas and update knowledge in offering better quality care to patients.
He added that about 30 to 70 per cent of orthopaedic beds in developing countries are occupied by people injured in road accidents. "There is a hidden epidemic on the world's roadways".
Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi said, "Musculo-skeletal conditions are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disability, affecting hundreds of millions of people across the world." About 1.2 million people are killed worldwide in road crashes each year, and as many as 50 million are injured, he added.
"As a result of the growing concern about road traffic accidents, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had devoted the World Health Day 2004 to road safety. Its theme "Road Safety is No Accident" is very pertinent to us as a nation, given the recent upsurge in road accidents over the years", said the minister before declaring the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 was established with the aim to improve the health-related quality of life for people with musculo-skeletal disorders.
According to Royal Brunei Police Force reports, more than 2,700 road accidents occur every year in which numerous lives are lost. Statistics show that from January to March this year, 64 serious injuries were recorded. It is significant to note that about one-fourth of such accidents occur on the national highway. The staggering accident rate is largely attributable to road user behaviour or conditions of the vehicles. Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi predicted that the situation may worsen due to the large number of inexperienced drivers expected on the roads over the next decade.
The Health Minister emphasised that prevention is their primary strategy in addressing road safety. He said it was of utmost importance for multi-sectoral collaboration to combat this so-called epidemic.
He said, "The Road Safety Council, private sector, NGOs and community groups can all become stronger advocates for road safety."
During his speech, the minister announced that another major cause of rising morbidity and mortality in Brunei was diabetes. "Diabetes is the third commonest cause of death in Brunei". He relates this to figures that reveals about 10 per cent of all orthopaedic surgeries are due to diabetes-related complications. Touching upon the increasing incidence of obesity among children, he presented a study conducted by the National Institute of Health USA published in the medical journal Pediatrics June 2006 issue, which showed that children and adolescents, who are overweight are more likely than their normal weight counterparts to suffer bone fractures and have joint and muscle pains.
"Efforts should be made to encourage health-care providers' recognition of the orthopaedic complications of excess weight so that interventions can be initiated," he said.
He added that among Brunei's sizeable ageing population, "osteoarthritis and osteoporosis were orthopaedic problems with significant impact on the quality of life ... Joint replacement surgeries to offer pain relief are now routinely done at Ripas Hospital".
"Challenges before us are enormous", he said, adding efforts will ultimately improve the availability and use of Brunei's emergency care services at all levels of health care.
The Brunei Times
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