Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has attributed the high numbers of road traffic crashes to a strain in healthcare system in Kenya with an estimated annual health costs attributable to road traffic injuries spending at 46.1 billion.
According to latest report road traffic injuries are ranked as the ninth leading cause of death in Kenya. Besides the fatalities, hundreds of thousands are seriously injured every year in road crashes leading to sufferings, long term impairments and lifelong disabilities.
“The Ministry of Health has equipped public hospitals with necessary diagnostic technologies and drugs to take care of victims of road traffic injuries. In prehospital care, the Ministry launched the Emergency care policy in 2021 that aims at establishing a vibrant Emergency Medical Care system as a key enabler to achieving Universal Health Coverage. This policy is in line with the fifth pillar of the Decade of Action for road safety; strengthening of post-crash care.”
According to Africa Regional Road Safety Status Report, in 2021 there has been a 17 percent increase in road traffic fatalities in the region, making it the only WHO region to experience such an increase.
“since 2010, road traffic deaths have fallen by 5percent to 1.19 million annually. Yet, road crashes remain a persistent global health crisis, with pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users facing an acute and rising risk of death.”
The report recommends that the Africa region should invest in research tailored to the unique challenges and contexts of the African region.
The report further reveals that road traffic injuries resulted in almost quarter million deaths across 47 countries of the WHO Region. The report reveals a concerning trend in road crash fatalities and injuries since 2010, the Status Report in Road Safety 2023 released in Nairobi by the World Health Organization, the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Ministry of Health, revealed.
According to World Health Organization, 9 in 10 of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries and fatalities in these countries are disproportionately higher when set against the number of vehicles and roads they have. The risk of death is 3 times higher in low income than high income countries have just 1 percent of the World’s motor vehicles.
According to the report On average in Africa, 19.4 people out of every 100,000 die in road crashes, while in Kenya 28 people die due to road crashes with Comoros (29), Zimbabwe (29.8), Guinea Bissau (30) and Guinea (37) having more deaths every year.
According to Bright Oywaya, road safety consultant at the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) in Kenya, explained a significant milestone in Kenya’s road safety initiative by launch of its road safety action plan which set goals and targets through a concerted effort spearheaded by government and various stakeholders.
‘’The plan was dedicated to addressing the root causes of road accidents and providing sustainable solutions that marked a turning point in the fight against road fatalities,” Bright said.
Road crashes though largely preventable remain a persistent global health crisis with pedestrians, cyclist and other vulnerable road users facing an acute and rising risk of death.
George Njao, Director General of National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), highlighted the importance of allocating funds and resources to road safety measures and post care thus ensuring the victims received the support they needed to reintegrate into society.
‘’The government unveiled the comprehensive plan which included measures to enhance pedestrian safety, promote non – motorized transport (NMT) and achieve a 50 percent reduction in road traffic fatalities.’’
MoH also lauds establishment of emergency, chronic and critical care fund saying it will offer financial protection for victims of road traffic crashes in the emergency settings.
The ministry of health also say that plans are underway to implement a trauma registry that will provide an accurate account of the injuries resulting from road crashes.
“We are continuously training health care workers on Trauma care and are particularly keen to ensure that the training’s involve adoption of modern technologies. MoH is also conducting training targeting the community on pre-hospital care,MOH says adding that, “All this is in a bid to ensure that the seventh strategic priority of the National road safety action plan ‘’post-crash care’’ is implemented effectively with the health sector taking a leading role.”
MoH reiterated that public health sector has a mandate to continue strengthening emergency services for victims, improve data collection, contribute to policy development and participate in the development and implementation of prevention activities.
The ‘reinforcements’ Ministry of Health says “will ensure that the reduction of the burden of road traffic injuries as one of its strategic objectives in the Health policy 2014-2030.”
