[Photo: Infomine]

Today marks World Head Injury Day, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the prevalence and impact of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). In South Africa, where TBIs are a significant cause of disability and mortality, the observance of this day holds particular significance.

As the nation grapples with rising rates of head injuries, especially among children and young adults, concerns about the long-term consequences on public health and well-being continue to mount.

According to Nurse Mande Toubkin, the General Manager of emergency trauma, transplant, and corporate social investment at Netcare, head injury is a significant burden of disease.

She emphasised that in South Africa, we have a struggling healthcare system and that many patients with traumatic brain injuries don’t receive what they should in terms of early recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Toubkin highlighted various different issues related to head injuries. “When you hit the head on one side, everything is almost sheered. One of the big issues in the world today is Shaking baby syndrome, where you shake the baby so violently that you cause a traumatic brain injury in the baby’s head,” she said.

According to Toubkin, no specific age group is affected; children have been affected at any age through falling over and banging their heads on a table or bookshelf, falling at the park, climbing gates and falling, abuse and getting hit on the head, through impact sports, and riding bikes without a helmet. “People don’t realise the importance of a helmet when they are riding a bike or scooter,” she added.

She emphasised the prevalence of distracted parenting, noting that there is a significant amount of risky behaviour among South Africans that could be prevented.

“When it says to wear a seatbelt, we don’t; when it says to wear a helmet, we don’t; and when it says to drive on the roads, we don’t. Parents and people need to understand that seatbelts and car seats are there for a reason,” she said.

Toubkin elaborated on Netcare’s Trauma Prevention Injury Programme, which educates children on recognising potential dangers that could result in injury and providing strategies for prevention.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Nurse Mande Toubkin from Netcare, here.