The World Health Organization (WHO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand, to strengthen collaboration on trauma, injury, and fall prevention across the WHO South-East Asia Region to address the growing health, social, and economic challenges posed by these issues.
As part of the partnership, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, will support Member States by enhancing capacity building, data management, research, and prevention efforts. This collaboration will include health workforce training, conducting regional workshops, and advancing cutting-edge research to strengthen prevention, care, and data systems across the Region.
While fall-related injuries affect people of all age groups, older adults remain particularly vulnerable, with up to 42% of those over 70 experiencing falls annually. Falls are also a significant cause of death among individuals aged 5–29, accounting for 15% of all injury-related deaths in this age group. Beyond mortality, millions more experience non-fatal fall-related injuries, leading to long-term disabilities and extensive demands on healthcare systems and, caregivers, severely impacting individuals and families.
Preventing injuries is crucial not only to reduce the strain on health systems but also to unlock broader social and economic benefits. About 90% of injury-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Even within countries, economically disadvantaged groups face higher rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries with factors such as unsafe living and working conditions, limited prevention efforts, and inadequate trauma care contributing to this disparity.
