Injuries and violence are major problems impairing health and welfare of vulnerable populations. Worldwide, an estimated 5.8 million people died of injuries in 2004. This accounted for 10% of mortality and 12% of the world's burden of disease. In the Western Pacific Region, there were an estimated 1.2 million injury-related deaths or 3300 deaths per day (accounting for approximately 21% of the world's injury related deaths).

The six leading causes of injury deaths in the Region in 2004 were road traffic crashes (336 000), self-inflicted injury or suicide (286 000 deaths per year), drowning (139 000), falls (134 000) and poisoning (59 000).

WHO provides countries with support to develop and implement national policies, programmes and legislation on injury prevention; to promote public awareness and political commitment; and to strengthen national capacities in surveillance, intervention and monitoring.

Issues associated with injuries and violence include: insufficient awareness and understanding of the magnitude of the problem; a lack of national policies and plans on injury prevention; and a limited national capacity to collect and analyse injury data and design interventions.

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• Road Safety (09 May 2011)

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01 August 2011
Tackling intimate partner and sexual violence against women
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