Every year almost half a million people die of injuries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, accounting for about 11% of all deaths. These figures are probably much higher at present, in view of emergency situations afflicting many countries in the Region.
Active ages are the most affected. Almost 60% of all regional deaths among males aged 15 to 29 years are attributed to injuries. Road traffic collisions followed by collective violence and suicide are the leading causes of injury deaths in the Region. More alarming is the fact that the problem is on the rise. Leading injury causes of death are projected to move upwards along the list of the top 20 causes of death both in the world and the Eastern Mediterranean Region, if current trends persist.
Taking a step further in continuation of WHO’s ongoing collaboration with ministries of health to coordinate and facilitate national efforts, the WHO Regional Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Jordan, organized a regional meeting of ministry of health focal persons for injury prevention in Amman, from 23 to 25 June 2014.
The meeting resulted in a number of recommendations available in the report of the meeting.