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Most injuries in Wairarapa are preventable, Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer said today, following the release of the draft New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy by ACC Minister Ruth Dyson.
The aim of the strategy is to prevent injuries and develop a safety culture in New Zealand.
"It is a disgrace that there are about 1600 deaths from injuries and 42,000 hospitalisations in New Zealand each year, when most injuries and their consequences are preventable," Georgina Beyer said.
In the Wairarapa, for example, there were 15 deaths as a result of injury in 1998, and in the following year, there were 375 hospitalisations as a result of injury. Georgina Beyer said while these figures compared well with other regions, people needed to take injury prevention seriously.
"Injuries take a huge toll on individuals, families, whanau and communities," she said. "The combined social and economic costs throughout the country are estimated at up to seven billion dollars a year."
The strategy will establish a national framework for government agencies, non-government organisations, communities and individuals to achieve a safe New Zealand where people live free from injury.
"The benefits of injury prevention are obvious. They include continued quality of life for people living free from injury, increased productivity for employers, and fewer demands on the health system.
"All New Zealanders have a role to play in injury prevention, including parents, caregivers, managers, workers, landlords, sports participants and road users. We have to involve the people who are most likely to be injured and encourage people to change their behaviour."
The draft strategy outlines 10 key objectives, including raising awareness and commitment to injury prevention, developing effective interventions, providing greater coordination of activities, and ensuring appropriate resources.
Six priority areas have been identified that account for at least 80 per cent of all injury deaths and serious injuries in New Zealand: motor vehicle traffic crashes, suicide and deliberate attempts at self-harm, falls, workplace injuries and disease, assault, and drowning or near-drowning.
The Government is seeking public feedback on the draft strategy. Workshops will be held around the country during November and December, and written submissions close on 31 January 2003.
The draft New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy is available at: http://www.nzips.govt.nz
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