WHO Signs MoU with Siriraj Hospital to Address Trauma and Injury Prevention in South-East Asia

New Delhi: 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 in the WHO South-East Asia Region. This partnership aims to tackle the growing health, social, and economic challenges posed by these issues.

“Globally, the burden of injury is immense. The resulting pain, disability, loss of independence, and premature deaths impose a substantial and growing financial burden on societies worldwide. This collaboration with Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, provides a unique opportunity to leverage their expertise to build capacity, strengthen evidence-based practices, and foster deeper collaboration across the Region,” said Ms. Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.

Injuries account for 4.4 million deaths annually, making up 8% of global mortality. Among these, fall-related deaths have risen faster than any other type of injury over the last two decades, leading to over 684,000 deaths each year. This increase is driven by factors such as aging populations, urbanization, and more sedentary lifestyles.

“Falls are not just a health issue, they profoundly affect quality of life, productivity, and social well-being,” Ms. Wazed emphasized. “In older adults, falls often mark the transition from active, independent living to a state of prolonged dependence or disability, with far-reaching impacts on families, caregivers, and communities. For working-age adults and children, injuries caused by falls can disrupt education, livelihoods, and social functioning, further exacerbating inequalities and perpetuating cycles of poverty.”

The societal impact of falls and injuries stretches beyond individuals, burdening health systems and economies. Healthcare costs, rehabilitation expenses, and lost income all strain public and private resources. This highlights the pressing need for robust prevention strategies.

While fall-related injuries affect all age groups, older adults are particularly vulnerable, with up to 42% of those over 70 experiencing falls annually. Falls are also a leading cause of death among individuals aged 5-29, accounting for 15% of all injury-related deaths in this age group. Furthermore, millions experience non-fatal fall-related injuries, which lead to long-term disabilities, placing significant pressure on healthcare systems and caregivers.

As part of this collaboration, Siriraj Hospital will support WHO Member States by enhancing capacity building, data management, research, and prevention efforts. The partnership will also include health workforce training, regional workshops, and advancing research to strengthen prevention, care, and data systems across the Region.

Prof. Apichat Asavamongkolkul, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, emphasized, “As a leading university medical center, Siriraj is deeply committed to fall injury prevention, education, and timely treatment, including performing hip surgery within 48 hours.”

Prof. Keerati Chareancholvanich, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at Siriraj Hospital, added, “It is a great honour to collaborate with WHO to address the critical challenges of falls and injuries by driving innovation and building stronger healthcare capacities across the region.”

Preventing injuries is essential 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, with economically disadvantaged groups facing higher rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries due to unsafe living and working conditions, limited prevention efforts, and inadequate trauma care.

WHO’s Step Safely program outlines evidence-based strategies for fall prevention across all age groups. At the recent World Health Assembly, the importance of addressing these challenges was underscored, with a new global strategy for 2026-2035 focused on integrated emergency, critical, and operative care.

Ms. Wazed concluded, “This requires a strong focus on developing human resources, generating robust evidence, and supporting countries to institutionalize effective prevention and management systems. The benefits of these actions extend beyond health, strengthening the resilience and productivity of entire communities.”