Injury Prevention & Control Unit
The Directorate of Non-Communicable Disease is the National Focal Point for injury prevention in the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka. The injury prevention programme, mainly focuses on the prevention of unintentional injuries and is led by the technical guidance of a Consultant Community Physician. The Medical Officers of Non Communicable Diseases (MO NCD) at the district level play a key role in implementing the strategies and surveillance for prevention of injuries.
Vision
A country free of unintentional injuries
Goal
To reduce the burden of unintentional injuries and related disability and death in Sri Lanka
Overarching principles and approaches
- • Leadership and coordination
• Evidence-based interventions
• Human rights
• Life-course approach
• Empowerment of people and communities - • Multisectoral action
The programme is conducted under the following strategic areas based on National policy and strategic framework on injury prevention and management in Sri Lanka, 2016 and updated following the Multi Sectoral Strategic Action Plan On Injury Prevention And Management, Sri Lanka. 2021 – 2025.
1. Advocacy, Partnership and Leadership
2. Health promotion and risk reduction
3. Post event care
4. Capacity building
5. Surveillance, monitoring, evaluation and research
Advocacy, Partnership and Leadership
National Committee for prevention of Injuries (NCPI)
Chaired by the Director General of Health Services, this National multisectoral committee consists of key stakeholders, including all ministries, departments, authorities, professional bodies, national and international agencies, Non-government Organizations that are relevant for prevention of all injuries.
It is strengthened under the policy and it helps enhance coordination mechanisms and ensure integration of injury prevention efforts among all stakeholders.
Injury prevention working groups
Several working groups have been established to work on different key areas such as Road safety, Child and Elderly safety, Home safety, Water safety (drowning prevention), Pre-hospital care and first aid and injury surveillance with a variety of multisectoral stakeholders. Prevention of Animal Bites and Poisoning are two of the newly appointed working groups to identify and intensify overall safety measures.
Multi sectoral Acute NCD (Injury) action plan 2021 -2025
Based on the strategies identified in the injury policy, a multi sectoral action plan was developed and launched. This plan clearly identifies the main strategic areas and aids in enhancing coordinated activities among a variety of stakeholders to ensure integration of injury prevention mechanisms across all sectors. Furthermore, it helps identify the roles and responsibilities of each sector in terms of injury prevention and guides each sector to incorporate these strategies into their own policies, guidelines and action plans. (ADD LINK FOR BOOK)
Health Promotion and risk reduction
Under this, several programmes have been launched depending on the mechanism of injury, place of occurrence and the vulnerable groups identified by the National Injury Surveillance system. Some of the programmes are as follows:
- Transport safety
- Drowning safety
- Home safety
- Workplace safety
- Child safety
- Elderly safety
- Workplace safety
- Post-event care
Initially piloted as an injury prevention programme, this community based programme has now gained momentum in addressing aspects in health other than injuries. Safe community programme is designed to empower the public and the stakeholders to identify the existing gaps in relation to health and to improve the standards by practicing community specific interventions.
Post Event Care
Launched in 2016, Post Event Care programme is conducted with the assistance of experts in the field of First aid. The main aim is to train at least one person from each house on basic first aid. Strengthening the district and MOH level capacity to provide training on basic first aid is one of the key activities identified and carried out.
Surveillance, monitoring, evaluation and research
National Injury Surveillance was launched in 2016 as a sentinel site surveillance. It consists of four components; Outpatient surveillance, Inpatient surveillance, Death surveillance and Transfer surveillance. In addition, monitoring of institutes that conduct surveillance is also carried out. Initially started as a paper based system has now evolved to a e-based system providing information of real time data for action.
Our Team
- Dr. Samitha Sirithunga Consultant Community Physician, National Programme Manager on Injury Prevention Programme
- Dr. Dhanusha Punyadasa Senior Registrar in Community Medicine
- Dr. E. Madhurangi Perera Senior Registrar in Community Medicine
- Mr. Nishantha Pradeep Kumara Development Officer