WHO raises alarm on road death statistics

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Even the World Health Organisation is concerned about the rising death toll from road accidents and suicides, statistics that bring dubious distinction to Malaysia.
According to a WHO announcement yesterday, road traffic injuries — and suicides — could rank among the top 15 causes of deaths worldwide by 2020.
An estimated five million people die every year worldwide from injury-related deaths, including road accidents.
In the Western Pacific region, injuries cause more than 1.2 million deaths a year, or nearly 3,300 deaths daily.
More than 90 per cent of injuries occur in low- and medium-income countries, affecting in particular young and productive age groups.
The major causes of deaths from injury annually are suicide (about 343,000), road accidents (about 302,000) and drowning (about 171 000).
In Malaysia, there were 6,118 road fatalities nationwide last year, 4.5 deaths for every 10,000 registered vehicles.
It has been estimated that an average of seven Malaysians commit suicide daily with the total number exceeding 2,500 a year.
Psychiatrist Prof Dr Maniam Thambu, of the Psychiatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the number of deaths from road accidents and suicides in Malaysia was worrying.
Dr Maniam said the number of suicides was increasing due to loan shark and dadah problems.
"Studies show that more young people are committing suicide than older people."
He attributed suicides to many causes including poverty, depression, loss of loved ones, breakdown in relationships, dadah abuse, academic failure and family history.
Dr Maniam estimates the suicide rate in Malaysia at 10-12 per 100,000 of the population.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek has said that in five to 10 years, suicide would be the country’s second-biggest cause of death after cardiovascular diseases.