Pakistan is a middle-income country where a motorcycle is a common mode of transportation. Youngsters while riding motorcycles forget to wear a helmet which ultimately leads to severe head injuries. The number of reported cases of head injuries in Karachi is increasing on a daily basis. Head injuries are considered to be very expensive in terms of lives lost, efficiency losses, and health care expenses. Head injury is considered to be serious if the brain gets affected, otherwise, the injury is expected to be a simple one.
According to Dr. Ali Raza who is the head of the Neuro Trauma Department at Jinnah Medical Post Graduates Center (JPMC), more than 30,000 people suffer from head injuries every year.
Speaking at the Research and Updates in Neuroscience Conference (RUN) at the JPMC, Raza said more than 80 youngsters get injured in motorcycle accidents every day due to not wearing helmets.
He asked the conference attendees to spread the message of wearing helmets which could prevent fatalities and save a life.
Dr. Lal Rehman, the director education of neurosurgery and neuroscience at JPMC said, the majority of people suffer from a brain hemorrhage and head trauma due to not wearing helmets while riding a motorcycle.
Currently, the JPMC Neuro Trauma Unit is the only place in the country which is providing the latest technology and treatment regarding neurological and surgical issues, with advanced machines such as Cyberknife, Gamma Knife, and radiotherapy at the hospital, Rehman stated.
Head injuries can be fatal resulting in the death of the patient. Studies have found that the majority of the deaths in accidents have been due to head injuries or head trauma. These are a major cause of mortality or disability among the youth of the nation. Steps need to be taken to control fatal head injuries by adopting effective preventive measures like wearing a helmet, traffic control, and management, rapid response to accidents, effective and efficient handling of cases in hospital emergencies.