The George Institute for Global Health and WHO to host 15th World Safety Conference 2024 in New Delhi

New Delhi: From September 2-4, 2024, New Delhi will host the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, Safety 2024. Organized by The George Institute for Global Health in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), the conference is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Themed “Building a Safer Future for All: Equitable and Sustainable Strategies for Injury and Violence Prevention,” Safety 2024 will highlight efforts to reduce injury and violence, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents. The conference will see international experts share cutting-edge research, innovative practices, and collaborative strategies to create safer environments and prevent injuries worldwide.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, will attend the conference to underline the government’s commitment to improving road safety. He will be joined by Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, whose expertise in public health policy will contribute significantly to the discussions. Esteemed international experts, including Rebecca Stapleton from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the Philippines, Dipan Bose from the World Bank in the USA, and David Ward, Executive President of the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP),  will also participate.

Injuries account for over 5.8 million deaths annually, yet the global epidemic of injury remains under-recognized. This highlights the need for more investment in prevention programs and accessible care. Safety 2024 presents a crucial platform for leaders, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to unite in their efforts to prevent injury and violence. Through knowledge sharing and collaboration, the conference aims to foster long-term change and save lives.

Dr. Jagnoor Jagnoor, Senior Research Fellow in the Injury Program at The George Institute for Global Health, stated, “Safety 2024 is a pivotal platform for driving global progress in injury and violence prevention. By bringing together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the world, we aim to foster innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate progress towards a safer and healthier future for all. India’s active participation is instrumental in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities within the region, across road safety, drowning, fall prevention, and other injuries.”

The George Institute for Global Health has been a leader in advancing injury prevention efforts globally. Designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Injury Prevention and Trauma Care since 2018, the institute spearheads initiatives to reduce injury-related deaths and disabilities. It is currently leading over 30 injury-related projects across various countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, South Africa, Uganda, and Vietnam, focusing on issues like drowning, falls, and child injury prevention.

The institute’s Injury Division is dedicated to improving safety, optimizing care, and enhancing rehabilitation for those affected by injuries. Its goals include facilitating policy action for injury and violence prevention in India, promoting coordinated and sustained efforts in injury prevention and trauma care, developing effective global strategies for addressing injury and violence, integrating road safety into broader injury prevention initiatives, and building cross-sectoral alliances to tackle the root causes of injuries and fatalities.

Safety 2024 continues the momentum built by previous conferences, such as Safety 2020 in Adelaide, Australia, and Safety 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. By bringing together global perspectives, the conference aims to push forward the conversation on injury prevention and set the stage for a safer world.