WHO Pushes Global Recognition Of Traumatic Brain Injury As Chronic Health Crisis
As conflicts, road crashes and humanitarian emergencies continue to rise globally, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has warned that traumatic brain injury, TBI, is becoming a silent long-term health crisis affecting millions beyond emergency rooms.
Speaking at a high-level event during the 79th World Health Assembly, Hanan Balkhy said about 69 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries yearly. Yet, many health systems still treat the condition as a one-time emergency instead of a lifelong medical challenge.
Dr Balkhy noted that countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region remain heavily burdened by conflict, displacement, disasters and road traffic accidents, with hospitals struggling under increasing trauma cases amid damaged infrastructure and shortages of medical supplies.
She stressed that survivors often face long-term neurological, psychological and social complications including epilepsy, stroke, dementia and mental health conditions after leaving hospital care.
According to her, recognising TBI as both a chronic and notifiable condition would improve surveillance, strengthen rehabilitation and mental health support, and boost prevention through safer roads, helmet use and stronger emergency response systems.
The WHO Regional Director added that the proposed resolution presents an opportunity to build a more coordinated global approach linking prevention, emergency care, rehabilitation and long-term support for survivors.
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